Improving your productivity doesn't automatically mean “do more”. Efficiency is a fundamental aspect, and if a tool can help you save time on the tasks you already perform, you should definitely adopt it. Today we're sharing a list of apps that I personally consider very important in my daily routine, and that I suggest giving a chance in your workspace.
How to Improve Your Productivity Without Losing Your Mind
Productivity is a word the whole world repeats as a magical solution to any problem, but in practice we know everything is more complicated. There are multiple factors to evaluate, some smaller, more spontaneous, and more personal than we expect. For example, I just received bad news and I know my work pace has already dropped, but throwing in the towel is not an option. What we can do is add allies and resources that reduce the load, even a little.
Now, it's possible that the list of programs we share below isn't revolutionary when it comes to improving your productivity, but if one of them helps you be more efficient in each session, our mission will be fulfilled.
KeePass
KeePass needs no introduction at this point. Improving your productivity also requires you to start your daily sessions securely, and for that we recommend using one of the most robust password managers on the market. Its free/open source profile and offline operation place it a step above the rest, and beyond the classic limitations of its interface, KeePass is an ally that cannot be missing from your computer. If you're not convinced, you'll also find builds and variants compatible with iOS, Android, several flavors of Linux, FreeBSD, Chrome OS, and more.
Total Commander
When it comes to copying, moving, deleting, editing, and renaming files, some users don't want autopilot or cruise speed. They want to have firm control in their hands and bend the will of their hard drives purely with the keyboard. In other words, they seek to manage files the old-fashioned way, with a clone of the eternal Norton Commander. Total Commander is my personal favorite because of its stability, its broad plugin support, and the ease with which it lets us customize its interface. The license is... expensive, but its shareware mode has practically no limits, and with a bit of Google-fu, it won't be hard for you to find FOSS alternatives.
Autohotkey
For some people, improving their productivity on the computer comes down to macros, shortcuts, more macros, and more shortcuts. If your job consists of repeating the same commands dozens of times a day until absolute exhaustion, I think it's an excellent opportunity to break that dynamic and dip your toes into the waters of the fabulous Autohotkey. Don't know where to start? Don't worry: Last year I shared a tutorial that explains how to create canned responses with Autohotkey, and it's ideal for beginners. Once you understand the structure of scripts, the sky is the limit.
Rambox
Rambox is a complex creature. Its official page presents it as a “workspace browser”, while others describe it as a “messenger manager”. However, I think its potential goes much further. Think about it for a moment: if you have to open services like Discord, Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp Web, why not concentrate all of that in a single application? Rambox's learning curve is broader than it seems, but once you master its basics, it will change forever the way you communicate. Its Community Edition is free and open source, try that version!
Forest
Improving our productivity also means fighting procrastination... and the smartphone sometimes becomes the number one enemy. That's when Forest comes in, a “focus timer” to help you make better use of your time. It all starts by planting a tree. The tree will keep growing as long as you don't touch your phone, but if you can't resist temptation, the tree will die. Gamifying the fight against procrastination may seem strange at first... but are you going to let the tree wither? Available on iOS and Android.
In summary: A personal matter
I've read on a sister site that productivity is strictly personal, and I couldn't agree more. I'm convinced these tools will be useful to you, however, the whole ritual begins and ends with you. What are the things you're satisfied with in your sessions? What do you need? What should change? Have you adopted an app you consider essential and would like to share it? The comments are open. Good luck!
