Sometimes, our procrastinating can get so severe that we may need a little help! Below you'll find 6 of my favourite apps that will stop your procrastinating. I've included some free options as well (welcome, fellow cheapskates)!
1. Forest
Personally, this is my favourite app on this list. Basically, it’s a game that works when you’re not on your phone, instead of when you’re on it! You plant a seed in a virtual forest, and as time goes by the seed will grow into a tree. However, if you can’t resist the temptation to use your phone for a different purpose (Snapchat, Instagram, etc.), your tree will die.
The more time you spend away from your phone and focussing on your work, the bigger your forest will get! It allows you to log the amount of time you’ve studied and write a description of everything you did.
The Forest app was also recently updated so that you can grow a forest with your friends! The real beauty of this app is that when you plant enough trees in the game, they will plant a real tree! Go environment!
The only downside to this app is that it costs AUD$2.99- but for what you get I’d say it’s completely worth it!
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2. Flora
Similarly to Forest, this app lets you 'plant a tree' to help you stay focussed and stop procrastinating. You can even plant trees with your friends so that you are held accountable for your screen time. The more you stay focussed, the bigger your forest will grow and the more trees you'll unlock! It also offers some useful tools like a built in to-do list and a habit tracker. The app is free, but if you'd like to contribute to planting trees in real life like you do with Forest, you'll have to pay a small fee in the app.
This app is currently only available on Apple devices, but they're working on an Android version as well as a browser extension!
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3. Screen Time
Okay so this isn't technically an app, but many phones now have the built in capability to show you how much time you're spending on it. This is a different approach because it doesn’t try and alter your screen time for you- it only shows you how long you’re spending on your phone each day. It may turn around your thinking in relation to your phone! You might just realise how much time you’re actually wasting when it comes to social media. Apparently, the average screen time per day is 4 hours! See how you measure up to the average.
I use this function on my phone all the time. I prefer seeing my screen time habits and altering them myself rather than have the app try and alter them for me. Everyone will have a different preference- find yours and stop your procrastinating!
See if your phone has this function built in!
4. StudyBreak
This app asks you to choose a ‘StudyBreak’ ratio, start a timer and put your phone down. If you pick up your phone while you’re supposed to be studying, it will sent you an alert telling you to get back to work. When your study time is over, an alarm will go off telling you it’s time to take a break.
There are a few great things about this app. The first being that you can study a bit longer or shorter than you planned on and the app will automatically adjust your next break to be longer or shorter accordingly. The second great thing is that you can use this app if you’re a procrastinator or if you tend to study for too long and tire yourself out-it can help with both! This app is free but is only available for Apple devices (including laptops and computers!).
5. Focus To-Do : Focus Timer & Tasks
Focus Keeper uses a timer to help you study for 25 minutes and then have a 5 minute break. Once you’ve completed 4 focus sessions, it will allow you a longer break of 20-30 minutes. It also helps you to track your productivity with charts. The full version costs $2.99 on the Apple App Store, but there is also a free version available!
6. Freedom
Freedom works like a parental control app, but you use it on yourself! It will prevent you from being distracted by your phone by block apps, websites and email. You can choose which sites and apps you’d like to block and it can block multiple devices at one time- so no cheating!
The app does not block you from opening your apps, but it does stop apps from getting new content. So you won’t be getting snapchats or DMs from your friends! Freedom is free on the App Store, although it offers in app purchases.
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Hopefully one of the apps on this list will help you stop your procrastinating! It may take some experimenting and dedication (everyone has a different learning style), but if you keep working on it, you'll be smashing your goals in no time!