Best focus and productivity apps for freelancers

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/

Many freelancers really struggle with staying productive. Whether you’re experiencing writer’s block or getting distracted regularly, maintaining productivity can be a significant challenge. Yet, there are a few actions that can help freelancers stay productive. Techniques like the Pomodoro method and blocking your access to distracting apps are ideal for this.

Some even better news? Multiple focus and productivity apps help you reinforce these techniques and ensure you avoid distractions. So, if you’re trying to keep your focus and don’t want to take your eye off the ball, apps are an easy way to do this. Let’s look at the productivity tips and productivity software that can help!

How to be more productive: Key productivity tips

Below, you’ll explore the productivity software and apps you can use to be more productive, but first, what are the best methods for being productive as a freelancer? Well, this can involve finding a productive environment and limiting your distractions.

Implementing these tips requires you to set up an environment that works best, which may include listening to motivating music. It can also involve implementinging methods such as time blocking or time scheduling approaches, and you’ll also want to take regular breaks so that you can return to the computer feeling energized and ready to work.

6 of the best productivity apps for work as a freelancer

With the right productivity software, you can implement these tips easily, but a huge range of productivity apps are on the market. So, here, we’ll explore six of the best productivity apps to help you maintain your focus from the start to the end of your day. Let’s dive in!

Get everyday productivity shortcuts

With the Dropzone app, freelancers can stay focused by remaining organized and managing files easily; the app helps you avoid the stop-start file navigation process, so your focus is always on the task at hand.

The main benefit of Dropzone is the speed at which you can organize those files. It just requires a simple drag-and-drop approach to move the files into the shortcut icons. This saves you time as a freelancer and ensures you can return to high-priority tasks quickly.

Dropzone also simplifies the administrative task management processes or transitional tasks with handy shortcut-adding functions. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer, you can add shortcuts to resize images that you want to add to a blog post. Or, if you’re an SEO manager adding links to an article, you can add shortcuts that shorten URLs through the DropZone app.

Set a timer to stay more focused

The Focused Work app is a timer-style app that augments your level of focus. It will let you allocate a specific timeframe for the duration you need to focus. You can choose the timer style you want, and a few options are available. The Flowmodoro option lets you focus for as long as possible. The Pomodoro option lets you break up your focus time with short breaks.

Focused Work is ideal for a range of freelancer roles. For instance, as a copywriter writing a long-form blog or landing page, you can input what task you will work on and can adjust the length of time you’ll need to focus. With the timer set, you can focus for the duration and then pause for a break in your writing process with the time’s up.

If you tend to get distracted by other apps, Focused Work can also help with this. The app has a function to block certain websites and apps, and this will prevent distractions and minimize multitasking.

Master online meetings

If you need to be productive during and after meetings, Spellar AI is ideal. This app helps you maximize your understanding of the spoken information shared in a meeting, doing so through a transcription process. But it does more than this; it automatically organizes what was said in meetings in a written format and aids with grammar and fluency through the transcription process.

Since it organizes transcriptions in a clear, organized way, picks up each unique speaker, and gives the speakers a name, the Spellar AI productivity app can help you make the most of those crucial meetings.

For instance, as a freelance team leader of a content writing team, you may use this app to transcribe the spoken information during a team meeting and check exactly what a team member said. This can enhance your post-meeting focus and help you decide which actions to take based on the specific details of the conversation.

Sync your to-dos & reminders with your Mac

GoodTask is a to-do and reminder synchronizing app that supports exceptional focus and minimizes distractions. The synchronizing feature works with Apple’s Reminders app and calendar software, which ensures you can handle projects effectively and in order of priority.

GoodTask is also a task-setting app that helps you stay focused and organized with a handy list. Manual entry is not required for tasks that happen regularly; the automatic repeat mode will set these tasks to recurring automatically.

It’s a good productivity app for freelance team leaders who need to focus on task assignments or timeboxing. For instance, a team leader might need to organize and repeat one-on-one meetings with each member of their team. They can do this by using the automatic repeat mode on GoodTask, which helps them stay focused and minimize the manual processes needed to set up these meetings.

Block distractions while working

Focus 2 is a straightforward timer that doubles as software that blocks distracting websites and apps. In terms of its timer and scheduling features, it allows you to establish your own schedule so that you can begin focusing on a particular time and date.

When it comes to reviewing your level of focus, there is a statistics tab that shows how long you stayed focused on a task. This is ideal for freelance writers who need to track the time required to complete specific projects and then optimize their level of focus accordingly.

Since distracting apps can hinder your focus, you’ll want to use the app-blocking feature if you need to ensure each project is receiving your undivided attention. So, to use the app blocking feature, go into the preferences menu. When you want to add a blocked app to the list, press the + (Plus) button. If you want to remove a blocked app from the list, press the - (Minus) button.

Get AI assistant for daily tasks

The BoltAI app is essentially an AI assistant that can help you prioritize different tasks. It helps you focus in many ways, one of which is to provide a focused web browsing or research approach. It eliminates the chance of veering off-topic with your research process and provides tailored responses to your specific queries.

When you need to optimize your focus even further and require project prioritization tips, BoltAI can provide these. For instance, a freelance writer and editor could write a prompt related to task prioritization and list the tasks they need to complete. Tasks might include editing three articles and writing two, as well as completing keyword research for a separate project.

BoltAI will reveal which tasks are the most important and suggest a task prioritization list. This can help you handle your workload effectively without losing focus.

Best productivity apps for work: Need to find these options?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelance editor, writer, or team leader. Focus is needed to complete every task and project effectively and satisfy your clients. If your mind is distracted, you’ll need a way to maintain your focus. This is much easier with the best productivity apps.

So, where will you get the ones listed above? Well, they’re all on Setapp! At Setapp, a seven-day free trial applies before your subscription for multiple apps commences, so you’ll be able to see exactly how these features work. If you want to stay focused, go to Setapp today. Try out these best productivity apps for work and watch your output improve significantly.