5 of the best android apps to improve productivity

There is a common perception that mobile devices reduce our face to face contact with people and as such can be a drain on your productivity. Considering there is a market for weird and utterly pointless apps this may well be a fair criticism. In this post we explore the best android apps for productivity in the Google play store.

#1: Slack

As android app developers with multiple projects in the pipeline at once, this is a personal favourite of ours. Slack is a message board app where you can keep tabs on different projects and be notified of developments on the go. It is much simpler to answer a quick question when you have a few minutes free between meetings than come back to a string of notifications when you are next in the office.

You can link calendars, to do lists and Google Drive to the app so you can keep track of all your useful information in one place.

You may need to be wary of the slackbot auto-responder, custom emojis and private chat features as they can become more of a distraction than an assistance.

#2: Google Drive

Not strictly an app that will make you more productive but it certainly helps to keep all of your documents in one accessible location. You needn’t be hooked up to a PC to check that press release your marketing team have shared with you or that report you need for the last-minute meeting you need to attend.

#3: Trello

Trello is a personal favourite for setting up collaborative to do lists and the option of adding multiple boards means you can use it across companies, and you can even set up boards to manage your personal tasks.

Set up cards with deadlines, checklists and assign them to members of your team with ease.

#4: 5217

You might think that taking breaks is the opposite of being productive, however, according to The Muse, the most effective way to remain productive is to work for 52 minutes and then break for 17. Having a 52-minute “sprint” of intense focus followed by 17 minutes of complete removal from the task was found to be the best way to get projects completed, rather than 3 hours of some focus between checking emails, taking calls and a sneaky check on Facebook here and there.

5217 works by encouraging you to work for 52 minutes and alerts you when timing your breaks. It can apply “do not disturb” mode to keep you free from distraction and send a daily reminder to start the app.

#5: AntiSocial: phone addiction

Despite the overly dramatic title, this app is really helpful for pointing you towards the usage of your mobile device and can be an eye-opener. It will monitor the amount of time spent using your apps and will give a report after 2 weeks of monitoring.

Once you’ve had your report you can take action by blocking apps which you use too often or at inappropriate times. If you’re a habitual checker of your phone you can even track unlocks.

Do you have an idea for an app?

These are a handful of the best android apps for productivity which may help you to become more efficient. If you have an idea for a bespoke app that will help your business work smarter we’d love to hear from you. We have app developers in London and the Midlands so we can serve the whole of the UK. Contact us today we’d be happy to help you turn your app idea into a reality.