16 best productivity tools that are ideal to help creators and small-sized businesses |
Feeling distracted? These top productivity tools for creators and small-sized businesses will assist you in staying organized, manage your time and do more work.
TL;DR
You can do more with these top productivity software tools for small business owners and creators
There are distractions everywhere, however they shouldn't hinder your work productivity. There are 16 incredible devices to help you get more done and stay in the right direction.
- Keep track of your times: Toggl, Clockify and Clockify. Focus Booster
- Distractions blocked: Self-Control Cold Turkey, Freedom, and Forest
- Create and manage projects and tasks: Asana, ClickUp and Trello
- The best way to streamline your business is Google Workspace, 1Password, Evernote, Canva, Zapier and
There's no magic formula to mastering productivity, but by using a helpful program as well as a little training, you'll find yourself with the time to focus on what is important.
However, staying focused while running your business may be tricky. Between social media, cat memes, as well as checking your fridge to see if better snacks magically appear, how can anyone expected to accomplish anything in these times?
Luckily, there are instruments that will aid. In this post we'll review 16 best productivity tools to monitor your time, eliminate the amount of distractions, organize your task list, and accomplish your goals as a creative or small business owner.
Please note that all prices are accurate at the time of writing, but this is subject to change as time passes. Like always, we wish it only changes in the money-saving direction.
Tools for tracking time
It's a bit surprising that almost 49% of the population had never done an audit of their hours to find out the way they're spending their time.
Being aware of how you allocate your time is crucial in boosting productivity. If you are aware of how long your activities will actually will take, it is easier to plan your workday accurately and stop time-wasting tasks early.
Here are three simple time-tracking tools that you can begin using:
Toggl
Toggl is a time tracker application that lets you know the time it takes to complete your work. Using Toggl is simple: Just write down what you're doing, hit start, and then get started.
What is it most suitable is forCreators seeking to learn where their time goes and freelancers who need to know the amount of time they spent on different client projects.
Pricing:
Free forever
Starter: $9/user per month
Premium: $18/user per month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Clockify
Its Clockify time management application features a timer as well as a weekly timesheet, calendar, and detailed report. It also allows you to assign tasks to different projects or even categories.
Clockify also has team time tracking features for managing workloads, booking time off and billing.
Which users are it suitable to be used for Individuals and teams that want a simple timeline interface, with the capability of assigning tasks to particular project.
Pricing:
Unlimited free for life
Basic: $3.99/user per month
Standard: $5.49/user per month
Pro: $7.99/user per month
Enterprise: $11.99/user per month
Focus Booster
FocusBooster is a Pomodoro application that lets you concentrate in short intervals in order to complete more tasks.
If you're using the Pomodoro productivity method it is possible to perform your work in 25-minute intervals, then take a short break. The method reduces interruptions and you may be amazed at how much you are able to accomplish in a short amount of time.
Apart from facilitating the Pomodoro-style sessions, Focus Booster offers general time tracking, daily to-do list, dashboards as well as alerts to help ensure you stay on the right course.
Who is it best to be used forCreators or small company owners who want to use the digital Pomodoro tool to boost productive.
Pricing:
Free forever: Includes 20 Pomodoro sessions per month
Unlimited sessions for Professionals: $4.99/month
Software for blocking distractions
The web is an incredible place to learn, connect with others and even earn money. It's also an amazing place to get lost. Avoid the urge to wander down a YouTube spiral with these distraction-blocking productivity tools.
SelfControl
SelfControl is a free Mac application that lets you restrict access to websites while you work or working or.
Decide how long you want to keep distractions out, then add websites you do not want to be able to access and then set the timer. Then, you won't be able visit those websites till the timer ends, freeing you up to finish your main work.
It's not a complex tool to use for productivity, but it works.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that multitasking or changing tasks while working can decrease productivity by 40percent. When you use SelfControl, you can keep your focus on the job at hand.
For whom it's ideal:Apple Mac users who want to block distracting websites during work time. Unfortunately, SelfControl isn't available on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS.
Pricing: Free
Cold Turkey
Similar to SelfControl, Cold Turkey removes online distractions and draws you in. You can restrict specific websites as well as entire domains, key word search results, and even access to the internet.
If you choose the Pro program, you are able to go a step further and stop games, applications, and folders on your system. It is also possible to schedule times to come in the near future when blocks are scheduled to be in effect.
Additionally, Cold Turkey makes a specific version designed specifically for writers , which essentially turns your laptop into a typewriter. You won't be able to write anything else until you've reached your ideal number of words or until your timer runs out.
Who it's best for:Any creators, especially writers, who want to keep away distracting websites and other computer-related applications.
Pricing:
Forever free
Blocker Pro Lifetime Access: $39
Freedom
Through Freedom You can eliminate any distractions in the digital world. You can block shopping sites as well as social media platforms, games, apps, as well as the entire internet.
Freedom is compatible with all devices You can also schedule blocks in advance and allow your current self to stop the future self from losing the time.
What is it best for: Users who require to remove distractions from every device and desire the ability to schedule blocked times in the future.
Pricing:
A free trial of seven sessions
Monthly: $8.99/month
Yearly: $3.33/month
Lifetime: $159.99
Forest
With Forest, the Forest app it is possible to gamify your productivity and prevent distracting apps on your iPhone and Android. 89 94% of workers have said that they believe that gamification improves their work productivity, and Forest excels at this.
When you need to complete your tasks, open the Forest application to set an alarm. When the timer is running and you'll be able to see the virtual tree grow.
If you do not check your phone and leave it unattended, the tree will expand and blossom. If you leave the application to perform different things, the trees will go down. As time passes, you'll be able to design a charming forest by working through the your tasks.
Real Talk, I just downloaded this app because it was fun to play with, and I love it already. I'm amazed how often I grab my phone without thinking, but watching my trees grow reminds me to keep on the right track.
Which users are it best is for People who want to be aware of distractions from their smartphones and are motivated by games (and cute plants).
Pricing: $3.99
Software for managing tasks and projects
Asana
Asana Asana is a popular project management tool ideal for individual creators and growing teams. With Asana it is possible to organize your to-do lists, see tasks in Kanban boards, and track timelines for projects.
Goal progression is also available with calendar views, goal progression, managing team workloads, as well as built-in time tracking to ensure you have a bird's-eye perspective of your organization from one central hub.
Which users it's ideal to be used for Teams and individuals that require a central location to manage their tasks, projects, and calendars. The integrations allow this to be an ideal choice regardless of whether you're already using other programs.
Pricing:
Forever free
Premium: $10.99/user per month
Business: $24.99/user per month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
ClickUp
ClickUp is an efficient task list and project management software where it helps you keep your company well-organized in one location. Stay on the ball by using detailed task lists and collaborative documents, as well as team chat, and time-tracking.
It is also possible to automate administrative tasks as well as create customized workflows that increase efficiency. There are tons of gorgeous templates that can help you get started.
Because ClickUp has separate "Spaces", you can use it to run your company, organize your personal life, or both.
Pricing:
Free forever plan
Unlimited: $9/member per month
Business: $19/member per month
Business Plus: $29/member for a month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Trello
Trello is a productivity tool to manage your to-do agenda and prioritizing work. Alongside boards, users can organize cards in calendars and lists to give an entirely new perspective.
Each card is equipped with space for subtasks and checklists, so you never have to fret about losing your important data. Trello includes automation capabilities to make tasks less tedious and help keep your workflow running.
Which people it's suitable is forIndividuals or teams looking for an organizational tool that resembles a board for big picture projects, managing clients, or just being organized throughout the day.
Pricing:
Free forever
Standard: $5/user per month
Premium: $10/user per month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Tools for streamlining your small company
In the final section, we'll look at general productivity tools that will improve the efficiency of your business. As a creator, every second is important. These systems will help you conserve time and not miss even a single beat.
Google Workspace (Formerly known as G Suite)
Google Workspace is a renowned software suite for business that can change how your team communicates.
Within your Google Workspace, you can utilize Gmail to manage your email, Google Hangouts for video conferencing, and Google Calendar for remembering deadlines.
Additionally, you can organize your files in Google Drive. Keep important assets for your business as well as create shareable spreadsheets forms, documents, and presentations that incorporate collaboration capabilities.
Teamwork with colleagues to edit Google Docs at any time, experience maximum email functionality to stay on top of due dates and meetings. Everything is accessible across all of your devices to ensure maximum ease of use.
Who is it best for: Creators and business owners who want a powerful place to communicate, collaborate as well as store data.
Pricing:
Free
Business Starter: $6/user for a month
Business Standard: $12/user per month
Business Plus: $18/user per month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
1Password
If you've spent a lot of searching for random usernames and passwords, check out 1Password . 1Password is password management software which lets you store passwords and securely share them with employees.
Just remember a single master password, and 1Password will take over the rest. This may seem as if it's a minor thing however, saving just a couple of minutes each day is worth it.
Who should it be used to be used for:People who need to manage multiple passwords from an easy location, and also want an easy way to pass on passwords among collaborators safely.
Pricing:
Free trial for 14 days
Individual: $2.99/month
Family: $4.99/month
Plans for teams are offered based on the needs of your business
Evernote
With the Evernote note taking tool, you can jot down notes and reminders, create memos, save files, create sketches, make to-do listsand much more. You can even make elaborate notes using checklists, tables, colors as well as other tools for organizing.
In essence, Evernote is a system of digital notebooks that are customizable and can be configured however you like. It is possible to search inside Evernote to quickly find anything you're looking for, and everything you write is saved across your computer and mobile application.
Who is it ideal to be used for Creators with many writing-related tasks who need an organized, searchable system to store notes, documents and other documents.
Pricing:
Unlimited free for life
Personal: $7.99/month
Professional: $9.99/month
Teams: $14.99/user per month
Canva
Any creative content you can visualize, you are likely to make with Canva.
There are pictures, stock icons, images along with fonts and other tools in order to build the marketing digital tools you'll need. Canva also includes templates that can help any entrepreneur who's not a pro at design look like a pro.
Pricing:
Forever free
Pro: $12.99/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Premium version for free available for teachers and non-profit organizations.
Zapier
Zapier is an innovative productivity tool and automation software that allows you to connect all your business applications. This is a tremendous time saver since repetitive manual work can be automated.
Zapier integrates with over three thousand applications, which include Dropbox , Calendly , Microsoft Office , Outlook , Basecamp , HubSpot , and Todoist , to name just a few.
In the end, if you use it, Zapier can probably connect it.
Who's it's is forCreators and business owners that use a range of devices to manage their businesses and want to integrate them.
Pricing:
Forever free
Starter: $19.99/month
Professional: $49.99/month
Team: $299/month
Company: $599/month
We all know that moving between platforms and the process of learning new software is a time sink. 55.3 percent of employees said that having too many applications reduces their productivity. With , all of your tasks fall in one place.
What is the ideal audience for it: Creators and small business owners who sell digital items or manage online communities and want their whole toolkit together in one spot.
Pricing:
Mover: $39/month
Shaker: $89/month
Earthquaker: $199/month
When you're done with the day, these top productivity tools for small businesses and creators can help you get more done regardless of whether your list of things to do feels like to be miles long.
Through tracking your time, avoiding distractions, managing your work while streamlining your process You'll be on the way to more productivity sooner or later. We're ready to get started.