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But communication multitasking is an issue that’s getting more and more serious. None of this is to say that Slack is a total productivity killer. We’re religious Slack users at RescueTime and absolutely love how it helps us do great work (especially as a remote team!). Fluid is simple – it lets you create an actual Mac App out of any web application. Instead of having several tabs open with your most-used websites, turn them into apps! Creating a Fluid App out of your favourite website is easy. Enter the website’s URL, provide a name, and choose an icon. Sometimes more features simply create more distractions and that’s counteractive for a productivity app – s problem you definitely won’t get with Toggl. #13: Pocket (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android & web) Free. Pocket is a wonderfully simple productivity app that simply lets you save web pages for reading later. Good chat app, just a few annoying things Overall Slack is a good messaging/chat/sharing app. Plenty of useful things within the threads or PMs. Nice feature to delete messages and it archives shared images and docs automatically. One annoying bit is the lack of a dark theme for the main message area. Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots and learn more about Slack. Download Slack for macOS 10.9 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. Slack brings team communication and collaboration into one place so you can get more work done, whether you belong to a large enterprise or a small business.
Popular productivity apps like Slack have come under fire recently. Some folks argue that while these tools are supposed to make our lives easier and help us get more done in less time, they actually do the opposite. This viewpoint raises the question: 'do productivity tools work?'
In this article, we'll tackle the question head on and show you how to use productivity tools more productively moving forward. Let's get started!
What Are Productivity Tools?
For the sake of convenience, we're defining productivity tools as any app or software solution that helps a person get more work done in less time. Some of the more popular productivity apps on the market include Slack, Dropbox, G Suite, Trello, and CloudApp.
Each of these tools was designed to make your life as a professional easier. Let's examine whether they accomplish that goal or not.
Are Productivity Tools Effective?
Think about it for a second: are the tools you use on a daily basis really making you more productive? If you answer honestly, you might be surprised by your response. Productivity apps are supposed to help us become more efficient and complete more tasks per day. But this isn't always the case. Unfortunately, they can bog us down if we're not careful.
So the answer to the question 'are productivity tools effective' is: it depends on which ones you use and how you use them.
In truth, most productivity apps serve an important purpose and have the potential to be total game changers when it comes to our productivity. The problem is, we don't always use the tools at our disposal in a productive way.
Take Slack for example. It's a wonderful communication tool that allows professionals to converse quickly, easily re-find important chats at later dates, and more. But if you and your team constantly use Slack to discuss local sports teams when you should be working, Slack actually becomes a hindrance to productivity rather than tool.
It's not just Slack, though. Any productivity tool, when used incorrectly, can have the opposite effect of what it was intended for.
The real question, then, isn't 'Are productivity tools effective?' but 'Am I using my productivity tools effectively?' In the next section, we'll show you how to get the most out of your favorite apps — no matter which ones you like to use!
How to Use Productivity Tools
So far we've established that productivity tools aren't the problem; the way we use them is. If you've tried to make Slack, G Suite, Trello, and other productivity apps work for you but haven't been able to 'crack the code,' keep reading.
In this section, we'll outline five best-practices for using productivity tools. These best-practices apply to each and every tool available so don't worry if you use some obscure app. You'll still be able to take advantage of the advice below.
Slack Communication App
1. Only Use What You Need
One of the problems with productivity tools is our overindulgence of them. For some reason, many professionals are obsessed with finding the latest and greatest app and making it a part of their daily workflow. But this habit has the potential to harm productivity in a significant way.
Take a look at the productivity apps you currently use and ask yourself, 'Do I actually need this?' If the answer is no, consider removing it from your technology stack.
Trello is a great tool but if it takes you longer to create cards than it does to actually complete tasks, it's not helping you become more productive. The same rule applies to every productivity tool currently available.
The trick is to only use what you need and invest in the tools that are actually useful to you as an individual professional in the workplace.
2. Learn Your App's Ins and Outs
Once you determine the app(s) you'll be using on a regular basis, it's time to learn their ins and outs. Sometimes productivity apps harm our productivity because we don't know how to use them correctly.
If you're constantly searching YouTube to learn how to access key features, you're wasting valuable time. Don't fall into this trap!
Instead, spend a few minutes up front — a whole hour if you need to — and really learn how to use your productivity tools of choice. That way you won't dither away time trying to access specific features.
The small amount of time you spend learning key capabilities, keyboard shortcuts, and other nuances of your app will pale in comparison to the time you'll save down the road.
3. Integrate Your Productivity Apps
Here's the thing: productivity apps can help you get more done in less time. But if you're using 12 different tools and constantly switching back and forth between them, you'll lose so many minutes in the process that your productivity gains will become null and void.
The first remedy for this problem is to reduce the amount of apps you use on a regular basis, as we already mentioned. There's almost no circumstance where using 12 apps is a good idea.
The second remedy is to integrate your tools together so that you can reduce the friction between them. Many productivity apps will connect seamlessly with each other. But if your tools don't, you can always use Zapier.
For example, you can connect Zapier, Dropbox, Slack, and your email provider. Then, when an email comes in from a specific sender, you can have the attachment sent to Dropbox and a Slack notification sent out alerting your team automatically.
Again, this tip will cost you a bit of time in the beginning. You'll need to spend a half-hour or so connecting your tools together. But once the task is complete, you'll become more productive.
4. Turn Off Notifications
Let's talk about the ultimate productivity killer: distractions. Every email, Slack message, and Asana update is another opportunity for you to lose focus on your work and become sucked into tedious projects that don't actually matter.
Fortunately there's an easy solution: turn off notifications.
According to Business News Daily, the average office worker checks their email 36 times an hour. Whenever they have to respond to a message, it takes them 16 minutes to refocus. Excessive meetings and social media apps are also major time-sucks.
After reading the stats, it's no surprise that we can't crack the productivity code!
Whenever you're working on a project — especially one that requires deep focus — we suggest you log out of your email, turn off your phone, and remove yourself from any potential digital distraction, including your fleet of productivity apps.
Productivity apps will harm rather than help you if you're constantly distracted by them. So do yourself a favor and turn off notifications. Allow yourself to focus and get work done.
5. Stay Focused
Lastly, stay focused on the purpose of each productivity tool you use. You downloaded Slack because you wanted to communicate with your co-workers more efficiently, right? Not to discuss last night's game or the latest episode of your favorite TV show.
When you use your productivity tools for what they were created for, they'll allow you to become more productive. Otherwise, these tools become a hurdle you must overcome.
Always remember, all productivity tools was designed for a specific reason. It's your job to use them correctly.
3 Specific Use Cases
Now that we've covered how to use productivity tools in a general sense, let's get a little bit more specific. Below, you'll find our tips for using three popular apps productively.
1. Slack
Source: Engadget
Slack is one of, if not the most popular productivity tool available. It's used by thousands of organizations around the world. Unfortunately, it's also an app with incredible potential to harm productivity rather than help it.
But don't worry! Follow these guidelines and you'll be able to boost efficiency with Slack:
- Leave any Slack channel that you're not actively contributing to or getting value from. If you don't, you'll be distracted by worthless messages that don't pertain to you.
- If, for whatever reason, you can't (or don't want) to leave a channel you're not actively participating in, at least turn off notifications for it. Here's how.
- Schedule specific times to check and use Slack. That way you can focus on your work distraction-free the rest of the day. Always respect the Zone of Genius!
These three tips will allow you to control Slack, not the other way around, and use the tool to boost productivity in a meaningful way.
2. Trello
Source: The Next Web
Trello is another immensely popular productivity tool that many companies use for project management. It can be very useful. But just like every other app out there, it can also kill productivity if you're not careful. Here's how to get the most out of it:
- Develop a system that works for your team. For example, if you use Trello to manage your company's blog, you could set up specific lists for each stage of the blog creation process: 'Ideas,' 'Writing,' 'Editing,' 'Published.' Then you could simply move cards from list to list as they make the journey from initial idea to finished project. Make sure you stick to whatever system you develop for your own team and its projects.
- Prioritize your work inside Trello. This productivity app allows you to give each task a due date. You can also color code cards for specific reasons. A red card, for instance, could mean 'Do This Task Immediately!' By using colors and due dates to prioritize your work inside Trello, you'll ensure the most important projects always get done on time.
- Limit who has access to your Trello boards. When everyone in your company can view and comment on any Trello Card, including folks who aren't related to the project or information being shared, you open yourself up to unnecessary distractions.
We're big fans of Trello! But you need to use the software correctly or it won't be able to help you improve productivity levels.
3. CloudApp
Finally, we have CloudApp, a powerful and intuitive visual collaboration tool that allows teams to communicate much more productively — when it's used correctly, of course.
CloudApp gives users access to screen and webcam recording, GIF creation, and image annotation features. Here's how to use these tools to get more done in less time:
- Use CloudApp as much as possible. If you don't use the tool, you can't benefit from it. Rather than writing a long-winded email, simply enable the app's webcam recording feature and capture yourself speaking your mind. Or quickly annotate a screenshot inside CloudApp and clarify your thoughts regarding specific documents.
- Integrate CloudApp with all your favorite tools. If you use Slack, Trello, Asana, G Suite Zendesk, Drift, or any of the other solutions on the Integrations Page, you can easily connect them with CloudApp. If your app of choice isn't listed on the CloudApp website, you just just use Zapier instead. By connecting CloudApp to your favorite tools, you'll be able to easily share your visual content with anyone.
If you're not currently using CloudApp, we suggest you get started today. It's free to use and will undoubtedly boost your productivity if you follow the two tips listed above.
Achieve Peak Productivity
In conclusion, we'd like to say that productivity apps will make you more productive as long as you use them correctly. Fortunately, you now know exactly how to do that. Just follow the five steps we outlined in this article:
- Only Use What You Need
- Learn You App's Ins and Outs
- Integrate Your productivity Apps
- Turn Off Notifications
- Stay Focused
And don't forget about CloudApp. Our tool's screen and webcam recording, GIF creation, and image annotation features can be accessed for free and are guaranteed to boost productivity. Give it a try today and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed!
Are Productivity Tools Effective?
Think about it for a second: are the tools you use on a daily basis really making you more productive? If you answer honestly, you might be surprised by your response. Productivity apps are supposed to help us become more efficient and complete more tasks per day. But this isn't always the case. Unfortunately, they can bog us down if we're not careful.
So the answer to the question 'are productivity tools effective' is: it depends on which ones you use and how you use them.
In truth, most productivity apps serve an important purpose and have the potential to be total game changers when it comes to our productivity. The problem is, we don't always use the tools at our disposal in a productive way.
Feeling over-hurdled with tasks and tired of not having time for anything? Need to go the grocery, cook a Mediterranean dinner on Saturday, answer emails, generate a quote, negotiations at 3 pm - prepare a presentation, buy tickets.. Gosh!
Such a mess with tasks and time, no life, no work, no chance. It's better to declutter your head and organize your time wisely with a productivity planner tool to get all things done.
We've prepared the list of the best productivity apps in 2020 for you. Our top 12:
Read on for the detailed analysis of each app.
What is Productivity?
To move forward, let's find out first what this mystical productivity is. Imagine, you have just an hour and a lot of tasks to do. The more you've done within this hour, the higher your efficiency is, the efficiency defines your personal productivity.
There are loads of books and articles written on how to increase productivity, many strategies and methods were discovered. However, the main principle of all of them is just to help you not to waste your time and carefully manage it. Applications also known as productivity planners can really assist.
Discover The Best Productivity Apps for You in 2020
There are a lot of directions for productivity planner apps: some of them help to create and manage to-do lists, some of them help you to get things done, ones assist with your mailbox decluttering, some help with organization, others are essential to building habits and so on. Later in the article, we will look over the best productivity apps for mobile devices anyone can use.
No need to search for queries like ‘best Android productivity apps’ since most productivity apps integrate easily with the most popular platforms. Later in the article, we will look at some of the best productivity apps that anyone can use. Continue reading on to get some of the best productivity apps for 2020.
1. Monday.com
Monday.com is an awesome option in our list of the best productivity apps for 2020. Monday.com is a tool for teams to use to collaborate, track their progress, and view informational dashboards. The views include charts, graphs, and even a Kanban view to easily check-in to see where things stand. The product is designed using “boards” where each project is tracked, and tasks can be assigned to each member with a status designation to code where it currently stands in the flowchart.
The interface is intuitive and attractive, making it a pleasure to use. It includes helpful integrations to link Zapier and Google Calendar, but setting up a project can be time-consuming and confusing with the different views.There are also a few missing pieces, such as the ability to set up recurring tasks and link dependencies in the timeline (this is a must-have for productivity apps). Also missing is any type of markup tools and a group discussion area (not linked to any specific project) within the app.
Monday.com works great for close-knit teams but is less effective for sharing with the outside world (clients and vendors). The pricing structure is cumbersome and uses group ranges (1-5, 10-50, etc.) rather than pricing per person. There is no free version to use, but it does work on the web, iOS, and Android devices.
Specs: Monday.com works on most platforms, including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Starts from $39/month for 5 users
✅ PROS:
- Useful project visualization tools
- Attractive interface
- Multiple people can edit the list at any time
- Supports integrations with more than 50 other tools and platforms
⛔️ CONS:
- Expensive if you have a large team
2. ProofHub
ProofHub also made our list of the best productivity software. ProofHub is an excellent project management app designed for small to medium-sized businesses. The service offers three pricing plans, each with different limits for storage and the number of projects. You can try it for free for 30 days. Unlike other companies, they charge a flat fee, rather than price per person. The more team members you have, the better value you get.
The interface is clean, attractive, and easy to use. ProofHub uses a lot of color-coding to make things easy to find. One of the nicest features was the setup walkthrough, which made adding a new project quick and simple. You can reorder tasks with a simple drag and drop. ProofHub is packed with great features like Gantt charts, time tracking, custom reports, Kanban view, task management, calendar, chats, milestones, and more. https://rackyellow860.weebly.com/blog/slack-com-mac-app. It even integrates with programs like Google Calendar, Apple iCal, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Outlook. ProofHub works on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
Aside from some interface glitches, responsiveness issues, and the lack of ability to add recurring tasks, we think this is a fantastic tool for small businesses to stay connected and organized.
Specs: ProofHub works on most platforms, including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Starts from $45 USD/month for 40 projects.
Price: Starts from $45 USD/month for 40 projects.
✅ PROS:
- Quick and easy setup.
- Clear interface.
- Nice balance of features and simplicity.
⛔️ CONS:
- Lacks budgeting tools.
- No recurring option for tasks.
3. Todoist
It's just as it is, a free 'to-do' list app. Todoist allows you to set up lists, reminds you of specific tasks like meetings and appointments, helps to make sure you're using your time wisely and much more.
To start using the tool, just put down all the tasks you need to do, and the software will then interpret and categorize them for you. Handy charts and graphs will be a great helper to check on your progress at any time.
Specs: Todoist works on most platforms, including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Limited free version with premium plans for $29 per year.
Price: Limited free version with premium plans for $29 per year.
✅ PROS:
- Integrates well with other apps
- Intuitive interface
- Best for lists and item management
⛔️ CONS:
- Built for personal use rather than enterprise
- Limited customer support
4. Trello
A popular tool either for the common Joe or for a professional user to organize and prioritize your projects. You can set up boards, create lists, fill them with cards (and this can be anything from tasks, master class notes, presentation pictures, and those brilliant ideas that you may have) which you can drag and drop up and down the list or move to other lists.
Thus, you could have To Do, In Progress, and Done boards for any project; Topics, Writing, Editing, Published boards for writing or any other specialized lists to organize anything and everything on a kanban board.
Specs: Trello works on most platforms, including iOS, Mac, Windows and Android.
Price: Free for personal use with business plans starting at $9.99 per month.
Price: Free for personal use with business plans starting at $9.99 per month.
✅ PROS:
- Free for personal use
- Email to card feature
⛔️ CONS:
- Complex interface
- The card-based structure is not for everyone
5. Notion
Notion is a popular all-in-one workplace for notes, wikis, and databases. Whether you are a venture entrepreneur or a student, it's a great tool for you. Boot app for pc. You can easily create tables, colorful pages, critical lists, exams and tests on a calendar, and project boards. With over 30+ types of media supported you can easily add video, audio files, images, and files to notes alongside text for a quick note-taking and share notes with others.
Notion works on most platforms including iOS, Android, Mac, and the web, and syncs across devices.
Specs: Notion works on most platforms including iOS, Android, Mac, and the web, and syncs across devices.
Price: Personal for $5 per month or team plans at $10 per team member per month.
Price: Personal for $5 per month or team plans at $10 per team member per month.
✅ PROS:
- Intuitive interface for information management
- Features are clear and easy to use
⛔️ CONS:
- Price
- Limited backup options
6. Slack
Slack is an incredibly useful communications tool for optimizing teamwork and streamlining team coordination. With Slack, collaboration is made easy as different channels are created for specific users and tasks. Team members can navigate between channels, leaving their mark where it matters without leaving unnecessary notifications for others.
So much more than a simple email substitute, use Slack to share documents, video chat and integrate a flurry of other tools.
Specs: Slack works on most platforms including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Free version with basic features with standard plans starting at $6.67 per active user per month.
Price: Free version with basic features with standard plans starting at $6.67 per active user per month.
✅ PROS:
- Great user interface
- Easy to customize
- Integrates with almost anything
⛔️ CONS:
- Expensive for businesses or groups with large user bases
7. Toggl
If you can’t measure it, then can you really say that you’re boosting your productivity? Fortunately, with Toggl you do just that. An intuitive time-tracker app, Toggl allows you to easily quantify time spent on tasks throughout the day, week, month and even year. Use Toggl to track your hours, but don't forget to analyze user reports to check your progress.
Toggl analyzes your results, showing you where you wasted your time and where you were most productive. In the mission to enhance productivity, Toggl is a great first step.
Specs: Toggle works on most platforms, including iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Personal plans start at $9 per month.
Price: Personal plans start at $9 per month.
✅ PROS:
- Intuitive interface
- Great user support
- Automatically generated performance reporting
⛔️ CONS:
- Price
- No screenshotting
- Limited mobile functionality
8. Hootsuite
Social media is the latest vector of customer engagement for businesses and other organizations, but keeping track of it all while trying to stay active on all the various social media fronts is a lot of work. Fortunately, Hootsuite can save everyone, such as activists and entrepreneurs, a ton of time. Use Hootsuite to integrate all your social media channels into one simple page where management is made easy.
Hootsuite is a social media management app and productivity planner that allows you to post and access all your social media profiles from one user-friendly interface.
Specs: Hootsuite works on most platforms including iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Free for personal use with three integrate social media profiles. Pro plans start at $29 per month.
Price: Free for personal use with three integrate social media profiles. Pro plans start at $29 per month.
![Slack Mac Productivity Apps Slack Mac Productivity Apps](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134138089/583784609.png)
✅ PROS:
- Integrates social media all in one place
- Intuitive interface
- Robust features
⛔️ CONS:
- Pro plans limited to only one user
- Expensive
- No analytics
9. Discord
It’s been compared to Skype and even Slack, but Discord is quickly making a name for itself in the gaming community as one the best productivity boosters and organizers around. While video games and productivity usually aren’t found in the same sentence, serious gaming communities use Discord to organize communication and streamline community interaction.
Use Discord to set up user-specific channels and appoint moderators while discussing the latest news with text, image, voice and video communication. https://rackyellow860.weebly.com/blog/tv-tracker-mac-app. Best of all, create invite-only Discord channels to keep the rabble at bay for an enhanced online multiplayer experience.
Specs: Discord works on most platforms including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Free
Price: Free
Slack On Mac
✅ PROS:
- Free
- Intuitive and user-friendly
- Great communication tool
⛔️ CONS:
- Built for gamers
- Not suitable for business
10. Just Press Record
A single-button recording app that’s easy to use on the go and syncs easily between your various Apple devices, Just Press Record is great for taking audio notes or conducting interviews. Use Just Press Record with all your Apple devices like your iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
Files can be saved, named, and accessed from all your synced devices. Even better, Just Press Record offers built-in transcription software that can help you transcribe your audio into text. This app is great for students, journalists, and anyone who likes to take notes and other recordings.
Specs: Just Press Record works on iOS and watchOS. A separate version is available for macOS.
Price: $4.99
Price: $4.99
✅ PROS:
- Great simple interface
- Syncs between all Apple devices
- Transcription capable
⛔️ CONS:
- iOS only
11. Google Drive
No productivity app list would be complete without Google Drive. One of the most versatile and universal tools, Google Drive is chock full of its own apps, like Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, and much more. One of the best perks of using Google Drive is that files can be stored on the cloud for free, meaning that you can log into your Google Account and access your work anywhere, anytime.
Unlike other word processors, Google Docs saves your work automatically at regular intervals. Ensure the survivability of your important documents with Google Drive, even when your computer crashes.
Specs: Google Drive works on most platforms including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Free
Price: Free
✅ PROS:
- Accessible anywhere, anytime through one single account
- Cloud storage
- Many useful apps
⛔️ CONS:
- If privacy is a concern, Google products may not be for you
12. Evernote
Evernote is a premier note-taking platform. Used by university students and professionals alike, Evernote allows you to easily write, format, save and share your notes with others. Create cloud notebooks that can be synced across devices or shared easily between friends and colleagues. Better yet, use Evernote to spice up the notetaking experience with added content such as pictures, audio, and short videos.
The best part about Evernote is that it is totally free. With up to 60Mb of free cloud storage, users have tons of space to store their latest creations.
Specs: Evernote works on most platforms including Web, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android.
Price: Free
Price: Free
✅ PROS:
- Accessible anywhere, anytime through one single account
- Syncs across devices
- Free cloud storage
⛔️ CONS:
- None
If you want to work on your productivity (who doesn't?) and manage to do many more things in your life and achieve goals, we encourage you to check out all the productivity software solutions mentioned above to choose those that fit your needs and requirements. Now that you have these options why not go for a test drive and see what's the best for you?