Top apps to boost study productivity and balance your busy life

Like many of our students, you likely have a busy life with competing demands and might struggle to keep everything balanced and running smoothly. We all turn to apps if we need to find directions, complete a purchase, or play a game, but there’s also a wealth of options when it comes to study support, that you can leverage to help you. Here are a few of our favourites.  

Quizlet 

Quizlet was founded in 2007 and is now used by 60 million monthly users across the world, a testament to its usefulness and accessibility when it comes to creating learning resources you find helpful. The main function of Quizlet is to help you create flashcards to consolidate what you’ve learned and turn them into revision games in preparation for your exams. You may also find relevant flashcards made by previous students studying the same subjects as you. Quizlet also has a built-in AI feature to help you organise the rough notes you’re making during your studies. 

SimpleMind 

SimpleMind is an intuitive app designed to help you create mind maps, allowing you to visualise your thoughts in a clear and easy-to-understand format. If you often find it stressful to manage a jumble of unconnected ideas, SimpleMind could be a great app to download. It’s a great hack to brain dump in a way that organizes your thoughts, making them coherent and easier to process. 

RescueTime 

RescueTime is a great tool for anyone looking to change their phone habits and boost their self-control. By tracking the time you spend on different apps and activities, it helps you spot distractions and inefficient study habits. Detailed reports show you where to improve your focus. You can set goals and get alerts when you spend too much time on non-productive activities. Plus, the blocking feature lets you temporarily disable distracting websites, making sure your study sessions stay on track. 

Todoist 

Todoist is a task management app with features like project categorisation, due dates, and priority levels, which can be handy for you to break down your studies into manageable tasks. The app's collaboration tools enable group study if you prefer to learn alongside a friend, while reminders and notifications can keep you on track with deadlines. Integrations with other productivity tools like Google Calendar enhance its utility. Overall, Todoist's structured approach to task management boosts productivity, reduces stress, and can help you maintain a balanced and organized study schedule. 

Sleep Cycle 

Sleep Cycle is a great app to download if you're struggling with productivity due to lack of sleep or poor sleep hygiene. The app tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up at the optimal time, within a 30-minute window, when you're in the lightest phase of your sleep cycle. This gentle wake-up method helps you feel more refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Additionally, Sleep Cycle is great for sleep talkers as it records any sounds or conversations you have during the night. By using Sleep Cycle, you can gain valuable insights into your sleep habits and make adjustments to improve your overall sleep quality and productivity. 

 

Balancing your studies with the rest of your life can be challenging, but with the right tools, you can streamline your efforts and maximise your productivity. The five apps we've explored each offer unique features to help you manage your time, organise your thoughts, maintain focus, and ensure you get quality rest. By leveraging these resources, you can develop a sustainable rhythm that supports both your academic goals and personal wellbeing.  

Disclaimer: this is not a paid ad and none of the apps listed in this article are affiliates.