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If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of it’s time. Whether it’s finding the time to get a full night’s sleep, squeeze in a workout, or socialize with friends, it seems like time always has the upper hand. Although it can be difficult, there are free time management apps out there that can help you. Not only can you become more organized, but you can also work on prioritizing what’s most important to you.
It’s important to keep in mind that not everybody has the same goals when it comes to time management. For example, some people might want to make time to cook for their family while others might prioritize getting outside for at least a half hour to bask in the sun. Regardless, time is valuable and tricky to manage so why not get help with an app? As the saying goes, “There's an app for that.”
Free time-management apps we love
Keep on reading to find the best free time management apps to get back on track, better manage your time, and help develop new habits.
For some people, keeping a ‘to-do’ list is one of the only ways to hold themselves accountable to get everything done or at least try. The free version of Todoist allows users to work on five personal projects with flexible layouts, view one week of activity history, and merge calendar and email notifications into one place to keep everything organized.
In terms of features, the ‘quick-add’ feature makes it easy to pencil in last-minute plans or goals for the day without rearranging the entire list and you can set recurring reminders whether that’s for doctor appointments, yoga classes, or phone calls with friends.
If you have difficulty staying focused, whether because you get distracted easily or simply can’t be bothered, try setting short, achievable goals. Be intentional with what you want to get done and set small, realistic goals. Focus Keeper is one of our top picks for the best time management apps, not only for its intuitive layout but also for its easy-to-read charts and graphs that track progress along the way.
The app encourages doing tasks in short 25-minute bursts with five-minute breaks in between. There is the option to choose longer focus session times and break times depending on preference. This helps keep you motivated by knowing that a break is on the horizon and that you are pressed for time. For added flare, you can choose from 14 different alarm sounds and 10 different ticking noises to make the experience more customizable.
Some individuals benefit most from a structured approach to time management. This daily planner app helps you to make the most of your day with visual timelines, to-do lists, and help from artificial intelligence which can aid in mental clarity and stress relief.
The free version of Structured also allows you to color code your activities and drag and drop them in different places as needed throughout the day. For enhanced focus, you’ll find a timer that can help boost productivity by adding momentum. A special feature of Structured is that it has a variety of accessibility settings including VoiceOver and VoiceControl, which makes it easier to use for individuals with disabilities.
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Everyone wants to be productive, right? Well, this app is a one-stop shop for everything related to productivity with its user-friendly interface and personalized capabilities. For starters, you’ll notice Productive's habit management tool that allows you to create, start, or finish habits whether you want to add more daily exercise to your routine or take meditation breaks throughout the day.
When it’s time to take a break, browse through articles dedicated to habit training and productivity to see the latest advancements in the field and find pro tips to help guide your journey. For some extra flare, you can even change up your icon and default color to make it more fun to engage with during the day.
Are you the type of person who needs a visual aid to help get you started? Forest provides a visual source of inspiration by allowing you to ‘plant a tree’ that grows as you continue your work. If you leave the app halfway, the tree will die and you’ll have to start over. This is ideal for individuals with remote jobs who may be tempted to scroll through Instagram or students who may want to take a little TikTok break.
The best part? Forest collaborates with Trees for the Future, a real tree planting organization, to grow trees when users spend their virtual coins so you’ll be doing both yourself and the environment a service.
Casey Clark is a freelance writer from New York City who specializes in beauty, food, and lifestyle content in the commerce sector. Her work has been featured in Women’s Health, Allure, Cosmopolitan, SELF and more. When she’s not writing, you can find her swatching the latest lipsticks or out to brunch with her girlfriends.