Apps I Use Daily That Make Me Productive.
How I Created a Digital Productivity System.
I have tried many apps over and over again, I work across Apple, Android, and Windows devices alike, and needed applications that can be used on any platform.
Most of these apps do something that other apps can do. But I have chosen each one because of a specific feature that I either can’t use on a similar app, or prefer how it is implemented in my app of choice.
1. Basecamp 3
This is my project manager.
Every project gets placed in Basecamp and assigned A due date.
There are many project management apps, I use Basecamp for one reason.
My Reason: “My Assignments With Dates”
This gives me a simple timeline of all of my projects to prioritize my workflow for the week.
2. Tick Tick
This is my to-do list.
I create a “Weekly Log” that contains everything I need to do for the week.
Then I assign each task a day.
This creates my schedule.
My Reason: Cleanest interface, especially for repeatable tasks each week.
In app pomodoro timers and Eisenhower Matrix.
Extra: TickTick’s Calendar integration is unmatched for to-do list apps. I alternate between paying for premium just for this feature. But most of the time Google Calendar does the job for me.
3. Google Calendar
Everyone uses a calendar. Or at least you should.
Google Calendar is cross-platform and free — which is why it’s my main calendar.
I added a few custom muted pastel colors to make it a little more visually appealing.
I use this for obvious things like keeping track of events.
My Reason: “Time Blocking”
Once I use TickTick to schedule a week of tasks, each day I look at my To-Do inbox for that day, and time block a schedule in my calendar.
4. Notion
If you have been around the productivity space for any period, you have heard of Notion.
Yes it is cliche but I use Tiago Forte’s “Building a Second Brain” system for managing all of my notes. Why? Because it works.
With Notion, I store all information, and project planning in one organized space that can easily archive projects for future reference at any time.
My Reason: Notion allows me to create pages within pages as many layers deep as I want.
5. Spark
Spark is simple and intuitive. It is the reason I have inbox 0.
I hate Outlook.
I hate any default mail app on any operating system.
They are unintuitive and too cluttered for my liking.
My Reason: Spark takes all 4 of my email accounts and brings them into one clean minimalist inbox.
It integrates with TickTick and lets me turn emails into To-Do’s with a click.
With their recent release on Windows operating systems, I can finally eliminate every other email client from my life.
Conclusion
Any system needs a few essentials. Plan projects in the long term, break them down into the short term and communicate with those involved along the way.
These apps are my preferred way of doing just that.
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What are your favorite apps for productivity?
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