Increasing productivity is a goal for many people, but it’s almost always easier said than done. Sure, people will tell you to “stop procrastinating” and “avoid multitasking”, but let’s be honest: how often do those vague instructions really work? If the usual pathways to productivity aren’t quite working out for you, it might be time to call in some reinforcements. Today, there are countless apps and digital tools that exist for the purpose of improving productivity levels. We’ve sifted through many of them to present our 5 favourite apps to boost productivity for freelancers.
Evernote
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to jot down an idea for a new project, or a hub to keep all your notes organized and accessible, Evernote fits the bill. The note-taking and task management tool is unique in its capacity to not only store digital notes, also add photos of handwritten notes, links to webpages, and different types of files to each note folder. It’s great for collecting different sources, ideas, and inspiration for personal and professional projects, making it one of the best apps to boost productivity in your work and home life.
You can download Evernote for free and use the app on up to 2 devices. A paid version will give you access to other features, like calendar integration, reminders, and text search in PDFs and images.
Todoist
One of the biggest impediments to productivity is poor organization. Like the name suggests, Todoist is a task management app that helps you stay on top of your to-do lists. Not only can you add new tasks to your dashboard as they come in, you can also break down big projects into smaller tasks, organize tasks based on priority, and even delegate them to project partners. When a task is done, simply tick it off.
For freelancers, Todoist is particularly good for keeping tasks organized by client and helping you stay on top of deadlines. The app is available either as a limited free subscription or a paid subscription with more project bandwidth and added features like reminders.
Engross
If your struggle to focus for long periods of time is interfering with your productivity, you are not alone. And, as they say, there’s an app for that! Engross exists to help improve your focus and time management and is one of the more unique apps to boost productivity. The timer app is based on the Pomodoro technique, which consists of working on a task for 25 minutes and then taking a short break, before refocusing for another 25-minute block. The idea behind the method is to focus for short bursts and schedule in time for distractions.
Engross also has a built-in feature that invites you to tap the timer whenever you find yourself becoming distracted. The app compiles statistics based on your productivity and logged distractions, to give you insights into when you were working best. Engross is free to download and use.
Krisp
If you work from shared spaces, you are probably familiar with the distinct anxiety that comes from taking a call in a noisy locale. Dogs barking, doorbells ringing, background talking, and traffic can all cause distractions and lead to a less professional experience. Krisp is an AI-powered noise-cancelling app that “bi-directionally mutes” background noises, ensuring your audio is clear and unobstructed.
Krisp can be integrated with any video conferencing or communication platform, including Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and more. The app is also fully encrypted and doesn’t store or process the content from any of your calls. For individual users, Krisp is free to use for up to 60 minutes a day.
Calendly
Seemingly small tasks—like emailing a client to find a mutually convenient time for a meeting—can not only eat up valuable time, they can also distract you from the work that actually generates income. One of the best apps to boost productivity and clear up your time is Calendly. Calendly offers an easy fix by automating meeting scheduling and notifying participants about meeting changes or updates. In short, the app integrates with your calendar and shows clients or coworkers your availability for meetings. All it takes is a Calendly link where they can choose an available time slot, and voilà, meeting booked!
With the free basic version of Calendly, you can integrate one calendar and post one type of event at a time, for example, a “30-minute consultation”. With a paid subscription, you will unlock other features, like group events and event notifications and follow-ups.
Looking for More Freelancing Support?
Freelancing doesn’t automatically come with the same support network as other professions, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t lots of help out there. Our Skillpack blog is filled with useful resources, tips, and guides for freelancers and people that work from home. We’ve got tips on staying motivated, advice to improve time management, a selection of free online course suggestions, and much more.
