15 Productivity Tools for OvercomingProcrastination

A report by Timo Kiander (a.k.a. Productive Superdad)

Introduction

This PDF file lists tools that help you to control procrastination. But before you check the list out, I want you to be aware of a couple of things.

First, I haven’t tested all of these tools (the ones I haven’t are marked with an asterisk). If you want more information about them, just click on the name of the application, which takes you to the manufacturer’s page.

Also, none of these links are affiliate links. I’m telling you this because you have to buy some of the tools in order to use them. Therefore, if you decide to buy an application through these links, I do not earn any commission.

Anyway, I hope that you find this list useful. If you think that there is a tool that should be added to this list, don’t hesitate to let me know about it, which can be done by sending an e-mail to: timo@productivesuperdad.com

I hope that these tools give you “an extra-arm” in a battle against procrastination.

Cheers,Timo

1. Anti-Social *

An application that blocks access to distracting websites. It comes with a set of pre-defined blacklist websites (you can’t access sites like Facebook, Twitter and such …) and you can even schedule the time periods when you want to block to be effective.

• Available on: Mac, PC (Windows XP - Windows 8)

• Price: $15-$20 (depending of the package)

• Home page: Click here

2. FocusWriter

An application that offers distraction-free writing environment. Features include things like timers and alarms, daily goals or customisable themes.

• Available on: Mac, PC, Linux

• Price: $0-$20

• Home page: Click here

3. WriteRoom

A full screen writing environment that helps you to write without distractions.Nothing else; just you and the writing app.

• Available: Mac

• Price: Free to try, author encourages donations

• Home page: Click here

4. Cold Turkey *

Block access to social media and other distracting websites while you work.

In addition to just defining the sites that you want to be blocked, you can also define Block Groups, which contain certain types of sites (such as social media, entertainment …).

With Timer, you can define how long you want to be blocked from the selected groups.

• Available on: PC

• Price: Basic version is free, Pro: $14.99

• Home page: Click here

5. Instant Boss *

Does the thought of working for hours in front of the computer put you off? Inthat case, perhaps you should include strategic breaks in your day and slice the sessions into smaller, more manageable chunks.

This is where the InstantBoss comes to play. You define the parameters like Work, Break and Repeat and finally hit the Work button.

When a time period you have defined (like Work) has passed, the application suggests a break, complete with a sound of pouring coffee. Once a break is over, the InstantBoss prompts you to get “Back to Work”.

• Available on: PC (Windows XP, 95/98/NT/2000/ME)

• Price: Free

• Home page: Click here

6. Dark Room *

The PC equivalent of Mac’s WriteRoom: an environment that helps you to focus on just on writing.

• Available on: PC (Windows XP / 2000 / 2003)

• Price: Free

• Home page: Click here

7. Finish *

This is a task list tool, aimed directly at procrastinators.

Define a name and set a deadline for the task. The assignment is then categorised into different groups, such as short-term, mid-term and long-term, based on the lengths you define.

For instance, you could set a due date of your task to be 20 days from this current date. If you have defined tasks in the long-term group to be more than15 days away, then the assignment is automatically added into this very group.

As the time gets closer to the due date, your task - which could be originally put into long term category - will automatically escalate to mid term category and then finally to short term category. When the task gets moved from one category to another, you’ll be notified by it.

To feel a sense of accomplishment, you can even see the already finished tasksby just tapping the Finish icon.

• Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

• Price: Free

• Home page: Click here

8. Procraster *

This application motivates you to get your work done.

When you are stuck with your project, Procraster asks you to identify the reason why you are stuck (like, “I have to be perfect”). Then, the app will offeradvice on how to finish the task in this very situation.

Amongst the many features, the app includes things like statistics, the ability to set sessions and break times, rewards to motivate you and the option to sync your tasks amongst the devices in a cloud.

• Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

• Price: $1.99

• Home page: Click here

9. Wonderful day *

Have you heard about Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret? It’s also known as “don’t break the chain” and its idea is very simple: you have a paper-based calendar that shows the one-year view at once. When you finish a task for the day, you mark the calendar with a big red X for that day.

Eventually, you form a chain of red Xs and it becomes harder and harder to skip even one day. If you fail to execute a task for a single day, you have to start forming the chain all over again.

Wonderful Day operates with the same principle; however, there are two improvements to the original method: first, it’s an app, so no paper-based calendar is needed. Then, managing multiple tasks with this method becomes easier, since you don’t have to buy a separate calendar for each of the recurring tasks.

• Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

• Price: $0.99

• Home page: Click here

10. TimeDoser

This Chrome extension is based on the popular Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25-minute blocks and then have a 5 minute break. One 25-minute block equals one Pomodoro and after four pomodoris, you should takelonger break (lasting 15-30 minutes).

I prefer to have longer working sessions than just 25 minutes at a time. That’s why it’s great to see that TimeDoser can help you set a working session up to one hour. Breaks can be set to last for up to 15 minutes.

The extension sits on the left side of your desktop. Clicking the big exclamation mark starts your session and you can pause it as you wish. When the session is over, you are notified by an alarm.

• Available on: Google Chrome

• Price: Free

• Home page: Click here

11. Productivity Owl

The owl blocks online access when you work. However, the application works differently than the rest of the site blockers.

The “Owl” is always present, giving you just a certain amount of time for accessing a given site. When that time is over, the browser tab closes and you’ll have to return back to your original task.

You can list the sites that can always be accessed without a time limit (like work-related ones) or sites that are blocked immediately (like Facebook).

Finally, there are sites which can be accessed through your free time period. Before you start working with Owl, schedule your breaks in advance. Then you get access to these sites listed in the Free Time category when it’s your break time.

• Available on: Google Chrome

• Price: Free

• Home page: Click here

12. Wunderlist

Years ago, I lived a life which was very different from the present: I procrastinated a lot, missed deadlines and didn’t get important work done.

Eventually, I started using task lists to plan my day and my life became more organized. I became aware of what was important and what wasn’t, allowing me to focus on just the right things.

I have used plenty of different tools for managing my tasks, but eventually I found Wunderlist, which I’m still using today.

Wunderlist lets you create lists, which act as categories for your tasks. You canthen add sub-tasks with due dates to your created list, by making them either one-time only or recurring. You can also mark important tasks as starred and see lists through different views, such as Today or Weekly.

There is also a Pro version that adds some extra features to the mix, like unlimited subtasks, unlimited delegation or the ability to add files of any size.

• Available on: Online, Windows 7/8, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad,

Windows Phone, Android APK, Amazon AppStore, Chromebook• Price: Free, Wunderlist Pro: $4.99€/month

• Home page: Click here

13. RescueTime

It’s very easy to spend time a whole work day on your computer, only to find out that you haven’t really gotten anything done when the day ends. To change this, you should be able to see how you actually spend your time and that’s exactly what RescueTime does.

The software runs in the background and automatically tracks your time usage. Afterwards, you can look at the statistics and see how much time you spent using certain applications or websites.

In addition to tracking, there are features like the weekly e-mail reports, showing your productivity levels and daily goals that help you to remain focused (like spend less than one hour on email).

The premium version offers more features, including the ability to track offline events.

• Available on: Online, Mac, PC, Android, Linux

• Price: Free, RescueTime Premium: $9/month

• Home page: Click here

14. Coffitivity

Believe it or not, coffee shops can be great places to improve your work performance and focus. However, if there aren’t any great coffee shops around or you just don’t want to drag yourself into one, take advantage of thisonline tool instead.

Coffitivity plays coffee shop sounds to the background while you work and it gives you a needed boost of productivity and focus.

• Available on: Online, Android, iPhone, iPad

• Price: Free, Premium version: $3-$9/month

• Home page: Click here

15. StickK *

Defining a goal and keeping it private may work for some people. But for quite a few of us, it gives an easy way to bail out of our tasks and goals.

The way to solve this issue is to become accountable towards others. Even better, if there is a risk of losing money in the process, this makes you to try much harder and not bail out prematurely.

To boost the success-rate of reaching your goals, you should check out stickK. Its web-based service is based on the commitment contract idea.

In other words, after setting a goal, you also set an incentive (certain amount of money and what happens to it if you bail out), a referee (for instance a friend or a family member) who monitors your progress and a support group, who motivates and cheers you up if you hit a roadblock before you reach your goal.

• Available on: Online

• Price: Free

• Home page: Click here