12 Apps to save time and boost productivity

My iPhone apps | Apptism.com
With so much going on in our lives these days - there are ways to use technology and the internet to help you make better use of your time rather than the time drain it so often becomes.

Here are just a few that I use or recommend that you can install on your computer or smartphone.

1.  Log and track your online and computer activity with an app like RescueTime.  See just how long you're spending in certain apps (like email) and adjust your behaviour and activity to work more productively and more efficiently.

2.  Focus your time with apps like FocusBooster or PomodoroApp - these allow you to work in bite-sized chunks of time that help you stay focused and less likely to be distracted.  Pomodoro works on the basis of 25 minutes work followed by a 5 minute break.  FocusBooster lets you set a variable amount of time.  10-15 minutes is great for blasting through quick tasks or starting on something you've been putting off.

3.  Remember The Milk - a great app that enables you to set up tasks and reminders, so you never need to forget anything and will sync across all your devices.  It also links with Evernote - another useful app for capturing thoughts, ideas, images and pretty much anything all in one place.

4.  Social media is taking over our lives - apps like Summly or Flipboard can provide a useful summary of news and social media in one place while you're on the move.

5.  Apps such as Hootsuite or Tweetdeck enable you to view and manage all your social media feeds - Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn in one place.  Schedule posts for when you're away, stay connected and respond without having to visit each app separately.

6.  Dropbox or Google Drive - very useful apps that mean you'll always have all those important documents with you when you need them.  Install the App on your phone, tablet and computer and they will automatically sync when you're online.  Share files and folders with colleagues, friends and family.

7.  Outsource some or all of your tasks with Sooqini - a new way of working.  Use it for both business and personal tasks that you either don't have time to do or you'd be better off getting someone else to do for you so you can get on with something more important.  Enter your task details, choose the best offer from the responses you get and pay when the job is done.

Don't get too caught up with the latest app or the newest technology - think about the task you want to do and then find the best app or resource to fit your needs.
(Photo credit: Bart Claeys)
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