Have you ever embarked on a project with great enthusiasm, only to find yourself struggling to resume work after taking a break? Or perhaps you’ve noticed yourself getting lost in social media instead of focusing on your goals? If so, you’re likely dealing with procrastination, and you’re not alone.
Research indicates that at least 88% of people procrastinate for at least one hour per day. Additionally, 20% of adults are chronic procrastinators, while 80-95% of college students occasionally procrastinate in their studies. However, if you’re committed to becoming more productive and reducing procrastination, there are apps specifically designed to assist you on this journey. Known as anti-procrastination or productivity apps, they aim to help users overcome procrastination and stay focused on their tasks.
While there are many productivity apps available, not all of them are equally effective. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of the best apps to help you tackle procrastination in 2024.
Let’s dive into it.
- Today Is The Day
Today Is The Day app is a novel software that uses methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people overcome procrastination. It integrates anti-procrastination techniques into your daily life.
The web program provides a methodical approach to help you build a structured, more productive life. Today Is The Day enhances its functionality and ease of use with features like a daily planner, progress tracker, regular anti-procrastination activities, and personalized procrastination strategy made specifically for you.
Pros:
- Simple to use;
- Efficient CBT exercises;
- Friendly user base.
Cons
- The outcomes depend on users actively participating, which might not be suitable for people;
- Hectic schedules;
- Some people may find the setup process unusual.
- Audio and video content is unavailable;
- Freedom
Freedom is a straightforward yet powerful productivity tool. It is created with the main goal of helping you escape the shackles of digital distractions. It comes with features like the Locked Mode—which ensures you stay focused even when there’s a probability of you discontinuing a work/productive session. You simply enter the lock mode before commencing a session.
Pros:
- Concentration sessions;
- Preventing distractions;
- Personalized block lists;
- Scheduling sessions;
- Seven free sessions with background music.
Cons:
- The Chrome extension is not always helpful;
- Background music requires the browser tab to be open.
- Mellow Flow
The Mellow Flow app starts by guiding users through a questionnaire to understand their procrastination tendencies. Based on this information, it creates a personalized strategy tailored to address the root causes of procrastination. Grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the app helps users set and achieve objectives by transforming negative thought patterns and habits into positive ones.
Pros:
- CBT based lessons;
- Tips to tackle ADHD;
- Individualized routines;
- Five-minute lessons every day;
- Monitor your progress with a productivity tracker;
- Return of funds guaranteed;
- Three different subscription packages.
Cons:
- Lacking video and audio content.
- Mindly
Mindly is an app that makes you more creative, gives their thoughts and ideas structure in a graphically organized way. Mindly allows you to work on your ideas even when you don’t have an internet connection. It can be both used on iOS and Android-powered devices.
Mindly comes with many remarkable features—Visual Clipboard, Dropbox Integration, Mind Map Export, Passcode/Touch ID Protection, and Customizable Color Schemes. All these features are designed to give you a good user experience.
Pros:
- Give your ideas structures;
- An introductory mind map to familiarize you with the app functionality;
- Use the Mind map tool to view your overall productivity;
- Create a backup copy of mind maps through emails.
Cons:
- Inability to sync with other mind-mapping tools;
- Inadequate desktop application.
- Focus@will
The focus app helps you with your daily work and activities by introducing soothing music while you work. This helps you relax and get deeper in your work.
The Focus@Will app is also very helpful if you are dealing with ADD/ADHD. There’s a specially made feature for ADHD, with thousands of tracks to listen to; so you don’t need to worry about repetitive tracks.
Pros:
- Helps you maintain concentration for up to one hour;
- Support from neuroscientists;
- Soothing music to help calm your mind.
Cons:
- There is a similarity in the music sounds;
- More beneficial as an addition than a solution.
- Rize
Rize gives you daily ratings and specific metrics for better focus. It helps you understand how you spend your time, thereby helping you develop better work habits, and track the ones you already have. It contains clean features like the time tracker, Google and Outlook calendar Integration, and a comprehensive user guide. This all makes the app pretty easy to use.
Pros:
- Time is automatically classified so you can see how you spend your day;
- Deliver a lovely report to your inbox every day and every week;
- Reduces context switching, which is a productivity killer;
- Notifies you when you require a break;
- You can modify the tool to fit your schedule.
Cons:
- The seven-day duration of the free trial is rather brief;
- It can get pricey to use the $15 invoiced monthly subscription version;
- To utilize all the functions, you must have an internet connection.
- Rescue Time
Understanding how you spend your time will help you make the necessary changes to increase your productivity—RescueTime does that for you. The app analyzes everything you do on your computer or mobile device and gives you reports on your time usage. It also has some simple features like an activity tracker, work goals and distraction blocker, and reports section.
Pro:
- Operates in the background;
- Provides a helpful support system;
- Provides daily and weekly insights to efficiently monitor performance.
Cons:
- Fewer customization choices;
- Limited project management capabilities.
Final thoughts
There are numerous useful apps designed to enhance focus for individuals struggling with procrastination. While many focus on workplace tasks or offer general support like meditation, some incorporate scientifically backed methods to address underlying causes, identify weaknesses, and provide guidance for improvement.
To find the most suitable app for your needs, fully engage with its functions and explore the options listed above. By doing so, you’ll discover the best app that seamlessly integrates into your daily routine.