5 Productivity Apps for Smarter Phone Use
Have you ever wondered if you can make your phone work for you rather than against you?
I know most of us feel guilty about the amount of time we spend scrolling, but what if you could enjoy that time and use your phone to make you more productive?
After reading the book How to Break Up With Your Phone earlier this year, and taking my first full day off my phone in years, I’ve become far more conscious of how I use it.
The book provides guidelines on how to structure the folders and screens of your phone, and since doing that I wanted to share the 5 apps that have actually turned my phone into my helper.
You may be surprised by the apps I recommend, as it’s not all about smashing out my daily tasks. The apps will help you be efficient, but also in a good headspace as you complete your to do list.
Asana
There are loads of planning / to do list apps out there, and I don’t think it matters so much which one you choose, but more that you use one. I’ve used the Notes app, Trello, and have been using Asana for the past few months.
I find its Kanban style super useful for planning out the different areas of my coaching business, and it also has a calendar view that I use for social media, but that you could use for any area of your life.
The intention is to have a place you can list all your tasks to get them out of your head and into an organised space.
Forest
I’ve recommended this inexpensive app for years, and still use it to this day. Inside the Forest app, you choose the amount of time you want to be off your phone (25 mins is the default), and you start planting a tree.
The intention is you stay off your phone until the tree is planted (and continue to add trees to your forest). If you pick up and start using your phone, the tree will die.
I use this app to help me be present with my daughter, when I’m cleaning the house, and to get a chunkier piece of work done. It’s amazing how often I’ll still grab my phone, even just to check the time, and then be reminded by Forest to put my phone down.
Screen Time
This one is a setting within my iPhone and other phones have this feature too.
Screen Time tracks how long you spend on your phone each day, including which apps you used the longest, how many notifications you got and how many times you picked your phone up that day.
It has definitely helped me set limits on my apps (an actual function you can set up within Settings), and turn off unnecessary notifications.
A disclaimer though: rather than beating yourself up on the amount of time you use your phone, use it as an awareness tool (particularly if you think you don’t have any free time - something I often hear when talking to my clients) and make sure you analyse the data too.
For example, I’ve had some higher screentime days I’ve been surprised by, but then realise I’ve been using my phone to listen to trainings or podcasts, which are part of my learning, so not random scrolling time I’m trying to cut back on.
Insight Timer
The last couple of apps may surprise you but over the last few years I’ve definitely found mindset is so key in affecting my productivity.
Insight Timer is an amazing meditation app. You can search any topic (sleep, motivation, relaxation, mum meditations, breastfeeding, anything) and choose a guided meditation.
I often use it in the morning, or if I’m having a stressful or unproductive day, I’ll also use it around midday. My favourite teachers to listen to are Tony Brady, Andrew Johnson and Byron Katie.
ThinkUp
Another useful mindset app is ThinkUp.
The use of affirmations helps reprogram your brain towards whatever goal it is you’re working towards, or can just be used to help you think more positively in general.
The free version means you can record up to 5 affirmations using your own voice and either listen to or read them each day (or both, as I do).
Enter your own or browse their library to find ones that resonate with you. One of my favourites is “I have enough time, money and energy for all my desires and priorities.”
So often we say we have no time, then point to our phone as the root of procrastination. Your phone can be a time suck but can truly be used for good.
Plan out how you’ll use your phone and feel excited about the apps you find on your home screen.
The apps can help you day to day, and move you towards a more productive life.