1. Notion – For when your brain needs a whiteboard
Notion is like a notebook, calendar, Pinterest board, and planner all rolled into one. You can use it for literally anything—writing out your goals, planning your week, organizing work projects, or even keeping recipes in one place.
The best part? You can build it your way. Want a minimalist journal vibe? Go for it. Prefer something flashy with emojis and color-coded sections? You got it.
Real-life use: I know someone who planned their entire house renovation on Notion—budget, paint swatches, contractor list, and all. Wildly satisfying.
2. Clockify – To figure out where the heck your time goes
Ever think, “What did I even do today?” Clockify helps answer that. You just hit start when you begin a task, and stop when you’re done. That’s it.
It sounds basic, but when you see a full week broken down by time spent writing, emailing, scrolling (yikes), or working, it’s eye-opening.
You don’t need to be a freelancer to use it. It’s just helpful if you’re trying to be more mindful of how your time disappears.
3. Todoist – For making satisfying checklists
Todoist is the app version of writing things on a sticky note just to cross them off. It’s clean, simple, and somehow makes to-do lists feel less stressful.
You can organize tasks by day, category, or priority—and the app gives you little “karma” points when you complete things (it’s weirdly motivating).
This one’s especially great if your brain thrives on structure but gets overwhelmed with clutter.
4. Trello – For visual thinkers and list lovers
If you like to see your projects mapped out, Trello is the move. Think of it like digital sticky notes on a board—drag tasks from “To Do” to “In Progress” to “Done.”
Writers, designers, social media managers… I’ve seen all kinds of folks use Trello to plan and collaborate.
It’s also really fun to customize. Want to make your board feel like a cozy coffee shop? You totally can.
5. Forest – For staying off your phone (and growing fake trees
This one’s a little different. Forest is basically a timer that rewards you with a tree for every focused work session. But if you leave the app to scroll Instagram or check WhatsApp, your tree dies.
Sounds dramatic, but it works. Especially if you’re someone who gets distracted easily (hi, me too).
Bonus: They’ve partnered with real-life tree-planting groups—so you can grow an actual forest by staying focused.
Quick Wrap-Up
You don’t need to go full productivity guru to stay on track. Just one or two solid apps that match your style can make your day feel way less chaotic.
Try them out, mix and match, delete the ones you don’t vibe with. Productivity looks different for everyone—these are just tools to help you make the most of your time (without losing your mind).
