Time is our most precious resource: you can never get it back once you spend it. Using my time wisely helps me get my work done faster and more efficiently, allowing me to finish sooner to spend time with my daughter or go to the beach. This is of course easier said than done, as I was addicted to YouTube and social media apps. They were all competing for my attention and distracting me from all my tasks at hand.
I recently found myself going down these rabbit holes during the day, so I decided to swap out my entertainment and social media apps for productivity apps. tools that could improve my life.
The transition hasn’t been easy, but having free time at the end of the day is a reward in itself, and I have less stress because I’m no longer chasing deadlines. I know there are many choices, but I do more and maximize my efficiency with these Android apps.
- Brand
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Samsung
- SoC
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Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Display
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6.2 inches
- RAM
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12 GB
The base model of Samsung’s 2025 flagship smartphone lineup, the S25 features the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a 6.2-inch display panel, and a triple camera array.
Pixel Bookmarks
Show distracting sites later
I often get distracted by reading the latest sports news or watching YouTube videos, wasting valuable time while I work. I now use Pixel Bookmarks to save links to interesting videos and articles I come across throughout the day to view later when I’m not at work.
The free version offers great features without unwanted ads. You can also try the paid version, which starts at just under $3 per month and includes backup and restore, reminders, and the ability to protect sensitive bookmarks with biometric locks.
Pixel Bookmarks is user-friendly and it only takes a second to save my bookmarks for later reference. For a free app, it offers comprehensive customization features, including the ability to add notes to the link, set an expiration date, or copy the link to other apps.
The best thing about saving bookmarks for later is that I usually end up ignoring the clickbait that caught my attention earlier and focusing on real topics that I love.
I can further personalize the experience by adjusting the size of the thumbnails and choosing whether or not to show notes and time icons. The best thing about saving bookmarks for later is that I usually end up ignoring the clickbait that caught my attention earlier and focusing on real topics that I love.
Google Keep
Create and share notes and lists
Everyone needs a note-taking app to keep track of their shopping lists, reminders, and interesting ideas throughout the day. I use Google Keep because of its simplicity and Google integration.
With Google Keep, I can create notes for articles I have in progress and add any images that need to be included. On busy days, I create voice notes to summarize my important calls, so I don’t forget to address tasks or issues later.
I work best with deadlines and use the reminder feature to set times or days to work on specific projects and other tasks.
I love being able to export my Google Keep notes to other apps, like Google Docs, or collaborate with my team or spouse to create lists or solve problems. After creating a note, I usually add images or audio recordings to add more context.
I work best with deadlines and use the reminder feature to set times or days to work on specific projects and other tasks. It’s easy to prioritize them by adding custom colors or backgrounds that are more pleasing to the eye than plain white.
Clockify
Manage your time more effectively with deadlines
Tracking the time I spend on each project and setting deadlines has improved my workflow and reduced wasted time. I use Clockify to track my projects, so I know how much time to allocate for each one and I can accurately invoice my clients. I do this by entering the names of my project and clients, then starting a timer. I can pause it at any time if I need to work on something else, then start it again when I’m ready.
Clockify has taught me the importance of setting deadlines for each job and is a valuable tool for managing my workload and invoicing.
After I enter all of my projects for the week, I use the reporting feature to see how much time I spent on each and track my billable hours. Sorting information is a breeze because I can color-code each task to match a specific client and add custom tags with additional details.
Ultimately, Clockify taught me the importance of setting deadlines for each job and is a valuable tool for managing my workload and billing.
Notion
A personal assistant in your pocket
Notion is my go-to app for planning and accomplishing any type of task. The app offers different workspaces for work, home or school, and creates personalized interfaces for each. Work-related workspaces will create interfaces such as projects and pipelines, while educational workspaces will help create lesson plans or manage clubs. I mainly use Notion for personal tasks, like budgeting and brainstorming ideas.
I use Notion’s AI chat feature to create tailored content plans to help me plan my posts.
I find it easy to budget and track my expenses with a handy Notion template that provides pre-created fields to enter my costs. Instead of trawling through multiple web pages to come up with plans, I use Notion’s AI chat feature to create tailored content plans to help me plan my posts. I also use this feature to brainstorm birthday party ideas and recipes, or search for the best workout routines and latest products on the market.
