Best Anti-Distraction Apps to Get Super Productive
Your work is piling up, the clock is ticking, and the deadline is approaching. But an inner voice whispers - “I’ll do it later.”
Some apps distract you.
And some help you beat the distractions.
Social media apps especially are addictive and keep users hooked. They waste time and drain all your energy.
There doesn't seem to be any escape from:
- Continuous notifications
- Endlessly texting friends and
- Binge-watching YouTube videos or Netflix
In short, doing all things apart from what you ought to be doing. Focusing on working or learning.
It is common for (many) users to fall prey to either or most of this. Even the brightest minds in the world have succumbed to either of these, at some point while learning or working. So, you are not alone. In fact, research shows that a person is distracted every 40 seconds while working in front of a computer.
All it takes is self-control. It might be tough to achieve, but trust me, it’s not impossible. Whether you struggle with distraction or procrastination, take note: there are some tools built for you. With some of the best apps to block distractions, you can gradually form positive habits and increase your focus.
If distractions come your way, blocking them is just a click away. In this article, we recommend 5 amazing apps that will help you take your productivity game to the next level. These apps allow you to be in control of your work habits, digital habits, and productivity.
FOREST
Have you wondered why you do the things you do? Because human beings are motivated by rewards. Neuroscience has discovered the “reward system” where neurons release dopamine, when we expect a reward or an incentive for performing a task or an action.
Forest app leverages this to your advantage. Forest helps you stay focused and beat distractions by rewarding you with a lush green forest.
Another feature that makes this app effective is that you can set the time limit for a task. The minimum duration is 10 minutes and you can go all the way up to 120 minutes.
Remember — if you set a timer for 20 minutes and touch your
phone to open something else then the Forest app will kill
your growing tree.
What users say about Forest app:
"Since 2019, I’ve been using the Forest app and I love this app because it’s purpose-driven. And free! Every time users spend virtual coins; the Forest app plants real trees on Earth! This is a great app for productivity." —
Forest app is available as:
Forest app pricing:
- Free versions on Chrome and Android.
- The Android Pro version costs $1.99.
- The iPhone version costs $1.99.
FREEDOM
This one is a no-brainer but as the name suggests, Freedom app frees you from distraction.
Freedom is kind of like the swiss army knife you need in life. This is an app to block distracting apps. Here’s what it can do for you-
✔ Block distracting apps – mobile and desktop
✔ Block distracting websites
✔ Block the entire internet.
You can set a schedule to block in advance or do it instantly. It blocks websites and apps across all your devices simultaneously.
Its ultra-powerful ability makes it the best app to block distractions. Even famous YouTubers like Thomas Frank also recommend using Freedom. This app is dear to the student community across leading Universities like MIT, Stanford University, and Harvard University.
What users say about Freedom app:
Over 1,000,000 people use the Freedom app. One of them is the formidable writer Elosia James. She’s a 21-time NY Times bestseller and a graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and Yale University. James confessed, “I don’t think about the 300 emails waiting for me. Freedom helps me do that. After I click on it, it’s a psychological nudge: “This is what I’m supposed to be doing now.” Not laundry, not worrying about my teenager, no hundreds of emails.”
Freedom app is available on:
Freedom app pricing: Monthly plan is available for $6.99
BRAIN FM
Music is therapy. Music is life.
Imagine how nice life could be if you can improve focus or sleep better, just by listening to music for 15 minutes.
Yes, that’s right. There is an app that creates functional music designed to improve your concentration in 15 minutes. Brain FM is backed by scientific research and its results have been proven. It is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
The beauty of this app is that it’s designed to meet your everyday needs. Different activities require different levels of focus. Whether it is to maximize productivity, enter a meditative state of mind or fall asleep quickly. All this makes it an amazing app for productivity.
What people have to say about Brain.fm
Brain Halligan (CEO of Hubspot) took to Twitter and praised Brain FM and gave it a 10 star rating. Hard to believe? Check it out:
My NPS score on https://t.co/Ai6lJtTOBG is a 10/10. If you need to crank through some work, check it out.
— Brian Halligan (@bhalligan) October 21, 2020
Brain.fm is available on:
Brain.fm pricing: $6.99/ month
RESCUETIME
Time is more precious than money. You can win back money if lost, but you can’t get back time once it’s gone.
Are you busy wailing away time and need some assistance?
Worry not! The RescueTime app has come to your rescue.
✔ Automatic Time tracking
✔ Set smart goals and block distractions.
✔ Eye-opening reports to show you how you actually spend your time. It brings to light your most productive hours, work habits, and other useful insights.
What users say about RescueTime
An NYT bestselling cartoonist, Colleen Doran, said – “I started using RescueTime and I was absolutely shocked by what I saw. I started making changes immediately and experienced big improvements within weeks.”
RescueTime is Available on:
RescueTime Pricing: Free plan with limited features. Premium plan costs $12/month. And offers free trial for 14 days.
DEWO
Dewo is one of the best anti-distraction apps for the iPhone and Android. Inspired by Professor Cal Newport’s concept of “Deep Work”, Dewo is a personal assistant that removes digital distraction, analyzes your web and desktop activity, and offers tailor-made suggestions to improve your productivity.
As a user, you get your own Deep Work Algorithm that uses your data to personalize the experience for each user. A remarkable feature of Dewo is that advice offered is based on insights.
Dewo is available on:
Dewo pricing: Free
