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    8 Best Productivity Apps for Students That Will Boost Your Grades Overnight!

    Blocksurvey blog author
    Apr 12, 2023ยท8 mins

    As the academic year grows longer and the syllabus more challenging, it's only natural for students to seek ways to enhance their productivity. With relentless assignments, coursework, and extracurricular activities tugging at their attention span, one of the best ways to stay organized is by utilizing a range of productivity apps.


    In today's digital world, there are numerous tools available that can make a significant difference in managing your workload efficiently. Be it scheduling tasks or collaborating on projects, these apps have been.

    The Power of Productivity

    Improving productivity can have a significant positive impact on your academic performance. By managing your time effectively and increasing your productivity, you can achieve more in less time, allowing you to stay on top of your studies, complete assignments ahead of deadlines, and ultimately achieve higher grades.


    Here are some ways that improving productivity can boost your academic performance:


    Better time management: By using productivity tools and techniques, you can manage your time more effectively, which means you can get more done in less time. This can help you stay on top of your studies, complete assignments ahead of schedule, and reduce stress and anxiety.


    Improved focus and concentration: When you're more productive, you're able to stay focused on your work for longer periods of time without getting distracted. This can help you retain information better and be more efficient in your studying.


    Increased motivation and confidence: Accomplishing more in less time can help you feel more motivated and confident, which can in turn improve your academic performance. As you start to see the results of your increased productivity, you may feel more motivated to continue working hard and achieving your goals.


    Overall, improving your productivity can help you achieve your academic goals more efficiently and effectively, giving you the tools you need to succeed in your studies.


    Here are the 8 best productivity apps that you need to be highly productive in your academics,

    Notion

    Notion is an all-in-one productivity tool that is highly useful for students. With Notion, students can create notes, to-do lists, project plans, and more in a single platform. One of the key benefits of Notion is its flexibility - you can customize it to suit your specific needs and workflow. Here are some of the key features of Notion:


    • Block-based system: Notion uses a unique block-based system that allows users to create pages with different types of content, including text, images, files, and more. This makes it easy to organize your notes and assignments in a way that makes sense to you.

    • Templates: Notion offers a wide range of templates for different purposes, including academic notes, meeting notes, project management, and more. These templates can save you a lot of time and effort in setting up your workspace.

    • Integration: Notion integrates with a wide range of other productivity tools, such as Google Drive, Trello, and Slack. This makes it easy to bring all your work together in one place.

    • Collaboration: Notion is highly collaborative, making it great for group projects or studying with classmates. You can share pages and documents with others and collaborate in real-time.

    One potential drawback of Notion is that it can be overwhelming to set up initially, as there are so many customization options.

    Forest

    Forest is a productivity app that uses gamification to help students stay focused and avoid distractions. It is highly useful for students who struggle with procrastination or find themselves easily distracted while studying. 

    Here are some of the key features of Forest:


    • Gamification: Forest uses a gamified approach to productivity, where you plant a virtual tree that grows over time as you work on a task. If you leave the app to check social media or browse the web, the tree dies. This can be a fun and effective way to stay focused.

    • Customization: Forest allows you to customize the length of your work sessions and the types of distractions you want to block. This makes it highly adaptable to your specific needs.

    • Integration: Forest integrates with other productivity apps such as Trello and Asana, allowing you to seamlessly incorporate it into your existing workflow.

    • Social impact: Forest partners with real-life tree-planting organizations, so every virtual tree you grow helps to support reforestation efforts around the world.

    One potential drawback of Forest is that it may not be suitable for all students - some may find the gamification aspect too distracting or not motivating enough.

    Cold Turkey

    Cold Turkey is a website and app blocker that is highly useful for students who need to eliminate distractions to stay focused. With Cold Turkey, you can block distracting websites and apps for a set amount of time, or use the "nuclear option" to block everything on your computer until a set time. 

    Here are some of the key features of Cold Turkey:


    • Customization: Cold Turkey allows you to customize your blocklists to suit your specific needs. You can block specific websites or apps, or block entire categories of content (such as social media or entertainment).

    • Scheduling: Cold Turkey allows you to schedule your blocks in advance, so you can plan your study sessions and eliminate distractions ahead of time.

    • Reports: Cold Turkey provides detailed reports on your productivity, including how much time you spent on different tasks and how many distractions you avoided.

    • Accountability: Cold Turkey has a feature called "Accountability Mode," which sends regular reports on your browsing activity to a designated accountability partner (such as a friend or family member). This can be a helpful tool for staying on track.

    One potential drawback of Cold Turkey is that it may be too restrictive for some students - if you need access to certain websites or apps for your coursework, you may find

    Focus@will

    Focus@will is a unique productivity tool that combines music and neuroscience to help students stay focused and productive while studying. With focus@will, you can listen to specially curated music that is designed to enhance concentration and focus. 

    Here are some of the key features of focus@will:


    • Music designed for productivity: focus@will uses music that is specifically designed to improve focus and productivity. This music is based on research into how music affects the brain and can help students stay in the zone while studying.

    • Personalized playlists: focus@will allows you to create personalized playlists based on your specific needs and preferences. You can choose from a range of genres and adjust the tempo and intensity to suit your workflow.

    • Integration: focus@will integrates with other productivity tools, such as Trello and Asana, so you can seamlessly incorporate it into your existing workflow.

    • Progress tracking: focus@will provides detailed reports on your listening habits and how much time you spend in a focused state. This can help you to monitor your progress and improve your productivity over time.

    One potential drawback of focus@will is that it may not be suitable for all students - some may find the music distracting or not helpful for their specific study needs.

    Trello

    Trello is a project management tool that is highly useful for students who need to manage multiple assignments and deadlines. With Trello, you can create boards, lists, and cards to organize your tasks and track your progress. 

    Here are some of the key features of Trello:


    • Visual organization: Trello uses a visual system of boards and cards, which makes it easy to see at a glance what you need to do and what you've already accomplished.

    • Collaboration: Trello is highly collaborative, making it great for group projects or studying with classmates. You can share boards and cards with others and collaborate in real-time.

    • Integration: Trello integrates with a wide range of other productivity tools, such as Google Drive, Slack, and Dropbox. This makes it easy to bring all your work together in one place.

    • Customization: Trello allows you to customize your boards and cards to suit your specific needs and workflow. You can add due dates, labels, attachments, and more to each card.

    One potential drawback of Trello is that it can be overwhelming to set up initially, as there are many customization options and features to learn.

    Grammarly

    Grammarly is a writing tool that is highly useful for students who need to improve their writing skills and accuracy. With Grammarly, you can check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style in real-time as you write. 

    Here are some of the key features of Grammarly:


    • Real-time feedback: Grammarly provides real-time feedback on your writing, highlighting errors and suggesting corrections as you type.

    • Integration: Grammarly integrates with a wide range of writing tools, such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs, so you can use it seamlessly in your existing workflow.

    • Customization: Grammarly allows you to customize your writing goals and preferences, such as whether you want to use American or British English.

    • Learning resources: Grammarly offers a range of learning resources, such as grammar guides and video tutorials, to help you improve your writing skills.

    One potential drawback of Grammarly is that it may not catch all errors or provide perfect suggestions, so it's important to use your own judgment when making corrections.

    Zotero

    Zotero is a research tool that is highly useful for students who need to organize and manage their research materials. With Zotero, you can store and organize your research materials, such as articles, books, and webpages, in one place. 

    Here are some of the key features of Zotero:


    • Organization: Zotero allows you to organize your research materials using tags, collections, and notes. This makes it easy to find and access the materials you need.

    • Integration: Zotero integrates with a wide range of other tools, such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs, so you can easily insert citations and create bibliographies.

    • Collaboration: Zotero allows you to share your research materials and collaborate with others on research projects.

    • Automatic metadata: Zotero automatically retrieves metadata for your research materials, such as title, author, and publication information, saving you time and effort.

    One potential drawback of Zotero is that it can be complex to set up initially, and may require some technical know-how to use to its full potential.

    Otter

    Otter is a transcription tool that is highly useful for students who need to take notes during lectures, meetings, or interviews. With Otter, you can record and transcribe audio in real-time, and even search for specific words or phrases later on. 

    Here are some of the key features of Otter:


    • Real-time transcription: Otter transcribes audio in real-time, allowing you to follow along and take notes more easily.

    • Searchable: Otter allows you to search for specific words or phrases within your transcriptions, making it easy to find and reference important information.

    • Integration: Otter integrates with a range of other tools, such as Zoom and Dropbox, so you can easily import and export your recordings and transcriptions.

    • Collaboration: Otter allows you to share your transcriptions with others and collaborate on notes or projects.

    One potential drawback of Otter is that its transcription accuracy may not be perfect, especially in noisy environments or with accents or dialects that it may not be familiar with.

    To wrap it up

    In conclusion, as a student, your time is valuable and it's important to make the most of it. By incorporating some of the lesser-known productivity apps mentioned in this list, you can optimize your workflow, stay organized, and ultimately achieve your academic goals more efficiently. From the research management of Zotero to the note-taking capabilities of Otter, each app has unique features that can help you maximize your productivity.


    By utilizing these apps, you can reduce stress, streamline your study process, and even have more time for leisure activities. So why not give them a try and see how they can benefit you? With these powerful productivity tools at your fingertips, you'll be better equipped to succeed academically and accomplish all that you set out to do.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    • What are productivity apps for students?

      Productivity apps for students are software applications designed to help students manage their time, increase efficiency, and improve focus to boost their academic performance.

    • What are the benefits of using productivity apps for students?

      Productivity apps for students can help students stay organized, prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and complete assignments on time. They can also help students stay focused and reduce distractions.

    • Are productivity apps for students free?

      Many productivity apps for students are free to download, but some may have additional features that require a subscription or one-time purchase.

    • Can productivity apps for students be used on multiple devices?

      Yes, most productivity apps for students can be used on multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, and sync data across devices.

    • Do productivity apps really help boost grades?

      While productivity apps cannot guarantee a boost in grades, they can provide students with the necessary tools to manage their time, focus on their studies, and stay organized, which can ultimately lead to improved academic performance.

    • What are some examples of productivity apps for students?

      Some examples of productivity apps for students include Evernote, Trello, Forest, Quizlet, Google Drive, Focus@Will, RescueTime, and My Study Life.