With only days until the end of 2019, people are already chalking up their New Year’s resolution. For some, it’s hitting the gym more often. Others stay on the path of getting rid of all noxious and obnoxious friends. But, for myself, I am just content with finding more ways to keep doing more and worrying less (perhaps laying off the fourth cup of coffee).
This article is dedicated to all those wonderful people out there who just want to stay awesome at what they’re doing. So, if you’re feeling then you’re less than productive, below the par and all that or badly want a resolution you can keep, take a quick look at my article about the best productivity apps you should definitely try out in 2020. Enjoy the article and careful with that extra glass of wine or champagne at the New Year’s Eve party.
If you're a fan of video games and want to set real-world goals, you might enjoy Habitica. It's a goal-setting app that seeks to gamify your life. It offers in-game rewards and punishments as a form of motivation, along with a social network for inspiration and support.
The Tom Holland of habit trackers, NewHabitApp is the most innovative habit tracker I’ve ever seen. What I really like about the app is that it almost doubles as a personal coach because of its in-depth descriptions for its hundreds of pre-created habits. The app enables you to look at the precise data of your habits and chains. Enabling you to check your progress with ease (paid version). It can be used with Apple Watch and the Today Widget for extra usability. Unfortunately, there ultimately is not too much to set it apart from other apps. But if you like the way it looks, you might have a.
Best productivity apps rundown
1. Todoist
The first resolution before the end of the year: checking every item off your to-do list. It’s important to stay organized, no matter where you are or what you do. However, in an organization where every task is marked as “urgent”, it’s very difficult to figure out what your next step should be.
So, for all you 9-to-5ers who are struggling to keep all those deadlines, I give you Todoist, one of the best-rated task management and productivity tool. Iskysoft imedia converter deluxe for mac review.
Those familiar with task-focusing apps like Asana will know just how much of a difference the right tool can make, especially when you are flooded by tasks. Todoist is compatible with all platforms (macOS, Microsoft Windows, Android, and iOS) and can also run on some wearables such as Apple Watch or Wear OS.
The GUI’s very intuitive works both online and offline and come with a smart color code system that helps you assign priorities to the tasks at hand.
Other useful features: favorite projects, recurring tasks, ability to create new sections and add subtasks, delegate tasks to team members, receive desktop or on-top phone notifications, draw up productivity charts, check the project’s status and many more.
Todoist can also be synced with third-party apps like Slack or Dropbox. Finally, this application is free for use and scalable enough to suit any enterprise needs. However, if you plan on deploying it on every machine, including BYODs, you may want to purchase the premium version which has additional features.
2. Habitica
What if life is one big RPG game, where you need to complete quests to earn experience and money? It certainly feels like it sometimes, but without magic, dragons, monsters, and epic battles.
What if we took everything out of RPG games (completing quests, leveling up, earning cash, unlocking new abilities) and apply them into real life? The result is Habitica, a gamified habit-building and productivity tool that makes you feel just like a video game hero.
It sounds too boring to create a memo about drinking water every hour? No problem – Habitica will transform this into an epic quest, with rewards and everything. One can say that Habitica is the best example of gamification.
Fable 1 free full. download. The interface resembles an 8-Bit dungeon-crawling game for smartphones. The hero aka your charming little self, has a health bar (which can increase or decrease depending on how well you abide by your daily habits), an experience bar (fills up each time you complete a ‘quest’) and even an energy/mana bar which slowly drains as the day draws to an end.
Like any habit-building app, Habitica allows you to customize your daily routine, send you reminders if you skipped one or more, and display stats at the end of the day. The rewards earned by completing a task can be used to unlock new items for your avatar (clothes, weapons, trinkets).
Habitica can be used in any type of environment: home, school, and even work. The app has powerful task management tools and widgets, which are guaranteed to spare you a lot of trouble.
Habitica is a great open-source tool, free of charge, but you can keep the project alive by spending real money on gems (that’s the app’s currency) and items.
It supports third-party APIs and can be synced with many third-party apps such as WordPress, QuickToDo, Firefox, Trello, Zapier, and even Microsoft Flow.
3. Timeular
Punch clocks may very well belong in the past, but they need to keep tabs on the employee’s activity is still around. So, how you eyeball someone without making him or her feel uncomfortable?
Try Timeular, a truly unique time-tracker that benefits both employer and employee. On the staff managing side, the app gives you a granular and bird’s eye view on everything that’s happening in your team, from completed tasks to delays and priority requests.
Employees using Timeular will have to gain a better understanding of how they spend time at work: lunch breaks, cigarette and coffee breaks, YouTube and Facebook time, reading & replying to emails, doing research.
Why is it unique though? Timeular’s ‘powers’ come from combining the old with the new. The time- and task-managing application is actually backed up by an odd-looking contraption that closely resembles one of those D&D dices. It’s actually a nine-face dice and, according to its makers, it makes task-tracking really easy.
The Tracker can be paired with any machine in a matter of seconds via Bluetooth and, once you’ve finished setting up your online account you can start taking advantage of Timeular. Each surface has a chalkboard-like texture, allowing you to write whatever crosses your mind.
Actually, that how it works: you write a task of each face with a non-permanent marker, sync them with the app, and that’s it. Each time you flip the ‘dice’, the app will start recording the time spent on the activity that’s written on that particular face.
Timular’s sole caveat is Its lack of free features. They have three pricing tiers, each with its own features. However, if you found the Tracker useful, you can always go full pro for a not-so-moderate free. This is a one-time fee and you get to keep the device.
Other useful features: third-party integration (Toggl, JIRA, Harvest), data exports, dashboard, cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS), reminders & notifications, analytics, and many more.
4. Freedom
Freedom is the Liberty Bell of task-focusing applications; no crack in it, though, but a fantastic solution to a distraction-free workday. Ever felt like you’re not getting enough out of your day because your attention seems to be all over the place?
Even the best of us lose our way, especially if our workload is overwhelming. Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, Snapchat, and Insta are, no doubt, great kills switches, but we tend to overdo it; and, most of the time, we don’t even realize just how much time we spend on these distractions.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelancing looking for ways to boost your productivity or an overzealous project manager. Freedom is a great way to ensure that all tasks are done with time to spare. The app can be easily deployed on just any machine, regardless of OS.
From there, all you have to do is to select your work machines, settle on work schedules, and save your changes. During work hours, Freedom will block all distracting apps and websites. You can choose which apps and sites to block from a pre-defined list or you can add your own.
Other useful features: Locked Mode (apps and websites are blocked during workhours. Select Locked Mode to supersede this feature. Extends blocked mode indefinitely.), whitelisting, advanced scheduling (recurring blocks), customizable blocklists, sync across all devices, dashboard, and a full trail audit.
5. Coggle
Brainstorming is the beating heart of every creational process. Oftentimes we engage in various activities just to get those creative juices flowing, mind-mapping being among one of them. It’s, more or less, like a diorama, where you have a central concept and stemming ideas.
Usually, this kind of exercise requires a pen-and-paper approach, but we kind of end up losing them and the brilliant ideas we came up with. So, if you want to keep track of these brainstorming sessions, Coggle is the way to go – a fantastic information-storage app, with an emphasis on visual processes.
It’s light, easy to use, and, most importantly, the free version can help you map out an idea in a matter of seconds. Of course, if you want to make the best out of your online collaboration, pitch for the Organization pricing tier, which unlocks tons of powerful features. Coggle makes chalkboards and paper look like things that belong behind a museum case.
Other useful features: cloud sync, cross-platform compatibility, thousands of free icons and diagrams, dashboard, bulk export, auto-arrange function, import/export text and .mm, export for Visio, shared folders, ability to upload high-resolution images, branded diagrams, full audit trail, and more.
Work smart. Stay Safe!
Working smart involves a lot of things: being kind to yourself, knowing when too much is too much, accepting criticism, staying away from potential toxic co-workers, and, above all, learning proper cybersecurity hygiene. Here are a couple of tips on how to stay safe online (and offline) in 2020.
1. Double-check app before deploying on machines
A solid piece of advice for sysadmins looking to make easier for all employees. Before downloading and deploying any software, ensure that it’s legit. Read reviews, contact the software vendor, and use a VM to perform a behavioral test on the app prior to deployment. That way, you can rule out potentially harmful applications.
2. Only sysadmins should have elevated privileges
Avoiding malicious apps is a full-time job, but the jobs become increasingly difficult knowing that, more than often, employees are the ones who pop open Pandora’s Box. That’s why it’s important to restrict the users’ privileges.
If you’re in charge of a handful of machines, it’s easy to enforce these restrictions, but what do you do if the enterprise has hundreds or thousands of workstations, not counting BYODs?
PAM or privileged access management is the answer to your problem.
System admins waste 30% of their time manually managing user rights or installations.
which frees up huge chunks of sys-admin time.
- Automate the elevation of admin rights on request;
- Approve or reject escalations with one click;
- Provide a full audit trail into user behavior;
- Automatically de-escalate on infection;
Thor AdminPrivilege™ can help you enforce these rules from anywhere in the world and at any time. More than that, it’s the only PAM solution on the market that automatically revokes user’s admin rights if a threat is detected on the machine.
3. Ensure that your antivirus/antimalware solution is running and up-to-date
As an employee, you should make of habit out of checking your AM/AV solution. Ensure that it’s still running and that the malware database is up to date. If the license has expired or the agent has stopped working, disconnect from the Internet, and contact your sysadmin as soon as possible to prevent a malware infiltration.
Wrap-up
From where I stand, the best New Year’s Eve resolution would be to change your work habits. Stay safe on the web, be productive, don’t forget about your health, and spend as much as possible in awesome company. Happy New Year everyone!
We all know making a resolution is the easy part. Sticking to them, on the other hand, is something not many of us can do easily. So, how's your New Year's resolution going? I hope you haven't given up just yet. There's still a lot of 2020 left for you to keep working.
People believe that the magical power of reaching a new year will give them the ability to become more productive in a matter of days. I know, I've been there. However, some of us need more than a new decade to achieve our goals. We need tools to make us accountable in case we lose our way.
Sure, you can use physical calendars, to-do lists, and even Bullet Journals, but sometimes digital tools are better to keep you up to date with your progress (or to shame you for slacking off).
If you need a boost to keep you working towards your resolutions, these tools might be the best for you. Some will help you organize, and others will literally force you to get to work. Continue reading to browse eight fantastic apps to keep you on track.
Beeminder
You've probably heard of Beeminder before, and there's a reason for that. Beeminder is a website tool and an iPhone app that will force you to accomplish your goals. To use it, you need to write what your goal is. Beeminder will help you track how much you have done or how much you've stopped doing something you want to quit.
One great thing about Beeminder is that you can import your data from a lot of other apps and websites. If your goals are to lose weight or learn a new language, you can use your data from apps like Apple Health or Duolingo to track your progress.
Habitica Sign In
There's a catch, though. If you failed to stay on track with your goal, you can start over – only, this time, you'll have to use real-life money to start. If you lose track again, Beeminder keeps your money. I don't know about you, but losing money is a great way to encourage me to keep going, so if you're a procrastinator, Beeminder might be the best tool for you.
Todoist
Todoist has been around for quite a while now, and as long as there are productive people in the world, it's not going anywhere.
Todoist is a great app that can be used on your Mac, your iPhone, or on practically any other platform. You can organize your life in different sections and create several reminders or tasks that you need to complete for every single one of them.
Besides its clean looks and easy-to-use interface, Todoist is everywhere, so you won't have an excuse to miss a reminder or skip an appointment.
Habitica
Making a new task a fun, creative challenge helps you feel more motivated to do it. However, sometimes it's hard to do this with every aspect of your life. And that's where Habitica comes in. This is a website and iPhone app that turns your goals into a Role-playing game (RPG). Every time you finish a task, you'll see how your character gains experience and even levels up.
Another great feature that Habitica has is that you can team up with other users to go on quests together. If one of the members of the group doesn't finish its task, it hurts the whole team, creating accountability and making your partners want to force you to complete your goals.
It's fun, creative, and it'll help you get the job done. But, if you're not a big gamer, or you want something a little more minimal, then the next tool might be for you.
Strides
Strides is also a goal and habits tracker for Mac and iPhone. Much like Habitica, you can track your progress and be on top of your goals every single day. You can track your hobbies, your weight goals, and basically any goal you want to achieve this 2020.
You'll see charts, calendars, and streaks of your progress. This way, you can celebrate your goals, or work harder on them. If you're into Habitica, or if you prefer simple and clean interfaces, Strides might be more suitable for your likings.
App Like Habitica On Mac
Toggl
Tracking your goals is important, but so is tracking your time. If you're losing sleep to complete your goals, but you spent all afternoon playing videogames, then you need to start improving your time management.
If you have problems with your time management, then Toggl can be a great tool to have on your iPhone, or you can use on your Mac. This tool helps you track how you use your time. You can track many different activities, see how you're spending your time with Toggl's charts, and, just like apps like Todoist, you can sync it to virtually any device you have.
Toggl is a great app to track how your team is using its time as well. However, Toggl is not free, so using it turns into an investment, just like Beeminder. If you want something cheaper, as in free, then check out the next tool.
Clockify
If you're working with others, managing everybody's time is important for success. Toggl can help you manage other people's time, but as mentioned before, it's not free.
Clockify brags about being the only truly free time tracking tool for teams, but you can also use it just for you. You can have as many users as you want, and control what you and other people from your team are working on. You can control this from your Mac or your iPhone with its app.
It's simple to use, and completely free. If you want to start tracking your time without investing any amount of money, Clockify is a great place to start.
SelfControl
Using your computer to work can be really hard. You have access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and millions of time-wasting websites. If your goal is to write, study or anything else that requires a computer, then you might need a little help to keep you away from certain websites.
You might need SelfControl. I'm talking about an app, although having your own self-control is also pretty important.
SelfControl is an app exclusive to Mac that blocks websites for a certain amount of time. You have to put these websites yourself on a blacklist. Once you start the timer, there's nothing you can do to access those sites. Even if you restart your Mac or even delete the app.
This app, though, can only be installed outside of the App Store. If you don't trust apps like this one, then you can try the 1Focus app. It basically works the same as SelfControl and it's available on the App Store.
Moment
Blocking websites from your Mac is one thing, but your phone is a totally different way for you to get distracted from your 2020 goals. And we can't let that happen.
Download ruang guru di macbook. Fortunately, Moment is here to help you. Not only it will track the usage of your apps, but it will also help you stay away from these apps through daily coaching.
The best part about Moment, is that you can also use it with your family. If your kids are spending too much time on their iPhones, you can track and control their apps with Moment.
Your iPhone might be the best tool you can use to waste time when it should be used to achieve your goals and be more productive. Hopefully, these tools will help you achieve your goals and be the best person you can be in 2020. Good Luck!