I am by nature organized, but these productivity apps made my life even more organized and simple. Here are the productivity apps I recommend!
I started using productivity apps in 2020 when my life was chaotic. I have tried many productivity apps, but the ones below are the best.
I have many projects, and I need to move forward regardless of the mess around me. Apps are more reliable than some people.
Here are the productivity apps I use to simplify and organize my life:
- Microsoft OneDrive for storage
- Microsoft Excel for tracking and management
- Google Calendar + Google Tasks for planning
- Notesnook for writing
- Canva for graphic design
- Wallet for financial management
- Microsoft To Do for planning
- Notion for writing and management
- Flo for menstruation tracking
Let’s begin.
9 Productivity Apps to Organize and Simplify Your Life
Even if you are ridiculously organized, using productivity apps will make a difference in your life. Have a physical planner? What if you forgot to bring it?
You prefer handwriting your notes, huh? But what if I told you that by doing so, you are slowly ruining the world? It is made from nature!
Productivity apps are a must-have if you want to effectively juggle many responsibilities. Life is stressful. Why not let apps manage some areas of your life?
You probably spend over 1% of your day on a computer or mobile device. You can’t lie to me because you are on this blog, which is on the internet.
You need a computer or a mobile device to browse the internet!
According to Statista, 5.35 billion people worldwide are internet users in January of 2024. It increases as time goes by!
I didn’t see the value of using productivity apps when I was a student surrounded by pieces of paper. I was broke, too. I couldn’t afford the paid ones.
But when I joined the workforce in 2017, even when I was an office worker, I needed access to technology. It is part of every adult’s life!
But it was in 2020 when I started worshipping them. Thank God, they exist!
I have used different applications and tools to organize and simplify my life. Many of them sucked or lacked some features, so I replaced them.
The productivity apps on this list are the ones that have worked for me, although some of them I don’t use anymore for some reason.
Nope, this post doesn’t contain affiliate links. Let’s start!
1. Microsoft OneDrive
I switched to Microsoft OneDrive because I use a Windows computer, so whatever I save from my computer can be accessed via my other devices.
Microsoft owns Windows, so all Windows OS-based computers can work perfectly with Microsoft OneDrive. And it is the default storage.
I reset my computer several times in the past, and I didn’t need to worry about my files because I knew they were safe. I could restore them easily.
You need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to get more Microsoft OneDrive storage space. Microsoft 365 has 3 paid tiers.
I tried Dropbox before, but I encountered issues with syncing. I was paying Google for 100GB of storage, but it often failed when I uploaded files.
I haven’t encountered any issues with Microsoft OneDrive, so I don’t see myself ditching it for better cloud storage. I can’t find any better anyway!
Check out Microsoft OneDrive pricing here.
2. Microsoft Excel
I wanted a project management tool that I could use offline and simplify my system, so I decided to use Microsoft Excel.
Microsoft Excel is not a project management tool per se. It is not even a productivity app. In fact, looking at the spreadsheets may stress you out!
But when I had my first content writing job, they used Google Sheets and it worked. I have a Microsoft 365 subscription that’s why I chose Microsoft Excel.
According to Microsoft, Microsoft Excel is free if you will open it on a web browser. If you want to install it on your computer and download the mobile apps, you need a Microsoft 365 subscription.
I manage my writing projects and SEO efforts with spreadsheets, and I get more things done this way because I am not distracted.
I was using Notion before. Notion is customizable, so I had distracting elements in my account. I stared at its beauty more than ticked off checkboxes.
Learn more about Microsoft Excel.
3. Google Calendar + Google Tasks
I plan my day using Google Calendar + Google Tasks. How?
For example, I will create a block for “writing” in the calendar, and then I will add as a task whatever I will write about: the title of the piece.
Google Tasks is one click away from the Google Calendar dashboard, which is why I switched to it from Microsoft To Do.
Using the Google Calendar + Google Tasks combination helps me visualize my entire week, and even my entire year!
You can create tasks without leaving Google Calendar. Google shares the process on how to create and manage tasks in Google Calendar.
I know whether I have time for something the next day or what the consequences will be if I don’t finish a task right away.
I manage many projects. If I don’t schedule when I will accomplish a task, I will do just any task without considering whether it is urgent.
If you want to get things done, you need a calendar app and a task management app, which don’t need to be from Google.
But if you want to try my system, click here to start planning your weeks with Google Calendar and Google Tasks.
4. Notesnook
Notesnook is not one of the productivity apps, but it makes writing easier, which helps me be productive in other areas of my life.
I rarely write directly in the WordPress editor or the built-in editor of any platform I write on. I write my drafts in Notesnook.
Unless I am writing for a client who wants the draft written in Google Docs.
Notesnook is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted, and private note-taking app. I recommend it if you think Obsidian is expensive!
Back then, I was using Obsidian, but I needed to pay to sync my files and access them on any device. $5 per month was expensive.
When I left Obsidian, I transferred my writings to Microsoft Word. However, formatting each writing was tedious, so it was time-consuming.
Then I found Notesnook. Notesnook is just like Obsidian, but more affordable. I don’t need to pay for my files to sync across my devices.
Download Notesnook for your device here.
5. Canva
I once disliked Canva because it makes the design process easy, and I wanted to go the from-scratch route to prove something to myself.
I wanted to be seen as a designer who could design using my creativity, even though I was not a designer. In case you don’t know, I am a writer!
And I am allowed to use Canva without feeling bad about it. It will not ruin my professional life. It actually improves it!
Canva was founded in 2013, and its mission is to “empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere.”
I have the Canva Pro, which I share with my two younger brothers because 5 seats are available. But only I pay for it. 2 seats left!
Canva makes designing easy, especially when you have access to the “pro” resources and elements. You can drag and drop stuff anywhere you are.
You can use the tool via a computer, your phone, or your tablet.
Canva Pro starts at less than $6 per month for Philippine residents. Check out their pricing page if you are from a different country.
6. Wallet
I manage my finances with Wallet. I have an annual subscription because the free version is limited considering my needs.
I track many bank accounts and mobile wallets, so I need an app where I can oversee all areas of my finances. So stressful to open different banking apps!
I have tried other financial management apps, including Monefy, but this one is the best for me because it is simple and easy to use.
According to BudgetBakers, the creator of Wallet, “Building a picture of all your assets, monitoring your money and controlling your spending has one purpose, and one purpose only: to lead to a richer life.”
I can access it on my phone, my tablet, or the web browser. It is convenient!
I don’t connect my bank accounts, though, for privacy concerns. Not because I don’t trust the app. I would do the same for even the best money app.
Track your finances with Wallet now!
7. Microsoft To Do
I am currently using Google Tasks for task management. But back when Google Tasks couldn’t be accessed on a computer, I used Microsoft To Do.
Microsoft To Do is self-explanatory. It is a task management app by Microsoft.
I think it is more suitable for non-work tasks. For example, you want to keep track of your household to-dos. Microsoft To Do is perfect!
I used that for my workout routine and household chores.
Microsoft To Do can be integrated with Microsoft Outlook, so you can easily add tasks directly from email.
You can create collections and lists, which is not a unique feature. But I found that theirs is better than Google Tasks.
Microsoft To Do can be accessed using a computer, via the web browser or the desktop app, and any mobile device. It can be used offline, too.
If you have a Windows computer and use the Focus Sessions feature to get things done, using Microsoft To Do is a smarter choice.
Get started with Microsoft To Do!
8. Notion
When I outgrew Trello, I decided to use Notion because it could do many things. It is a note-taking app and a project management tool in one.
I used it mainly for my passion projects, religiously! Until I practiced digital minimalism, and I needed an app I could use offline.
Notion is cloud-based, so it needs an internet connection to work. It is a tool that has many purposes, so you can simplify your processes with it.
You need to be connected to the internet to use Notion, always. Not good for those who want to take a break from the internet from time to time.
Still, the automated workflows made me more efficient. It felt like I had a virtual assistant. I would open the app, and the tasks for today were there.
Learn how to use Notion with their free guides.
9. Flo
I stopped using Flo because I bought a HUAWEI smartwatch, and the HUAWEI Health app has a menstruation tracker. Still, I recommend this.
Flo didn’t simplify or organize life. It simply informed me of my menstrual cycle.
I don’t need an app to track my menstruation because I am not sexually active or trying to be pregnant. I also get migraines before my period.
But I liked the interface, so I enjoyed using it. You may enjoy using it, too, because of the design of the app. There is a community you can interact with.
Flo wants “to build a better future for female health by helping you harness the power of your body signals.”
I remember the app was 99% accurate. It was able to predict the exact start date of my menstruation 99% of the time. Why 99%?
There were months when my menstruation was a few days late, but it was not the app’s fault. Many factors affect the menstrual cycle.
However, some users filed complaints against Flo for disclosing their “intimate” health information with other apps, such as Facebook.
They may have disclosed mine back then. *shrugs*
If you are concerned about your data with Flo, use the Anonymous Mode feature, which The Verge explains in this article.
Last Words
Productivity apps are not one size fits all. What has worked for me may not work for you, and what is working now may also not work tomorrow.
It depends on your needs, and they change. For instance, I loved Notion so much, but I can’t use it now that I want to work offline at times.
I was also a paying user of Google Workspace, but Microsoft OneDrive became more suitable for me when I wanted a more convenient file management system.
Which of these productivity apps do you use?
If you enjoyed reading the productivity apps to organize your life and simplify it, here is a video of me showing you what is on my devices:
