OSX Apps To Help You Focus & Be Productive

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-apps-to-help-you-focus-be-productive-mac/

by abraham • 17 years ago

75 26 17 years ago

truebosko• 17 years ago

Not a bad list. The Pomodoro timer is built on Adobe AIR so it works under Linux as well.

peregrine• 17 years ago

I was looking for something similar to the more powerful app on Linux. The FocusBooster app works great but its only a timer.

callmeed• 17 years ago

I've just recently been trying pomodoro so I'm looking forward to trying some tomorrow.

NathanKP• 17 years ago

This is a very comprehensive list. I'll have to try a few of those apps myself.

PStamatiou• 17 years ago

Just tried Isolator, pretty nifty!

chrischen• 17 years ago

I'd have to say that Self Control is probably the only useful one for me. If an IM pops up or I have an urge to browse HN, I'd circumvent any of the apps that just dims other apps if I want. And for the Pomodoro timers it's too easy to deviate off schedule, and too many tasks that are too short to time.

Self control however is ingenious. I can impulsively block sites, only to block impulses to visit sites afterwards.

That reminds me though, I seriously have to start using the procrastination feature here at HN.

ptomato• 17 years ago

You know what helps me focus? Not messing around with half a dozen apps intended to make me more productive.

cloudhead• 17 years ago

damn right — this is nearing the ridicule, people should stop thinking some app is the answer to productivity, and get on with the actual production.

jawngee3• 17 years ago

Huh? When I'm uberproductive I have, at least, these things running:

* iTerm (3+ windows)

* TextMate (Multiple windows)

* Eclipse or XCode

* Safari (Multiple windows)

* Firefox (Multiple windows)

* AquaMate Studio (Multiple windows)

* Charles

* iTunes

* Photoshop

* Finder (Multiple windows)

If you hesitate when navigating the flow, it's easy to get lost. It gets even worse when you are using a lot of java apps because they always seem to refocus when you tab back to them, which can throw your flow for a loop.

By turning on OS X's Single App Mode, that hasn't happened to me yet. I definitely noticed an increase in focus.

I am happy for you that you are able to be so focused, but one size does not fit all.

johnnybgoode2• 17 years ago

What's AquaMate Studio?

Luyt• 17 years ago

Thanks for pointing me to Single App Mode, I didn't know that it existed. So I learn something new every day! (Espacially from reading HN ;-)

To enable Single app mode:

defaults write com.apple.dock single-app -bool true

killall Dock

pjhyett• 17 years ago

Auto-hiding the dock has easily been the most productive change I've made to OS X.

jawngee3• 17 years ago

I use OSX's Single Application Mode:

defaults write com.apple.dock single-app -bool true

killAll Dock

Has been a big boost.

raganwald• 17 years ago

More on Single-Application Mode:

http://db.tidbits.com/article/10624

dimas• 17 years ago

Apps might be helpful but nothing is better then self determination and self-discipline especial when outcome of work directly impact your profit and well being. Multitasking is a bitch of today's productivity. It makes you think that it helps you get things faster but research indicates then on the contrary it does not. The laps of time you brain takes to switch between the task is the waist. It is also very addictive. I used to multitask a lot and now try to discipline myself not to do it unless one task is taking time without my direct control(like coping large files or running long process). Sometimes I find myself ridiculously starting to read and article or code few lines of code while my brain start doing something also and looking for other task to start. I started finding it destructive and in need to eliminate.

callahad• 17 years ago

I'm fond of Freedom - http://macfreedom.com/

It kills your networking a configurable period, with the only way to circumvent it being a reboot. Or so it claims. The claim alone is enough to keep me from trying simple things like an ifup. And that's what I needed.

wheels• 17 years ago

Seriously, Freedom is a lifesaver for me. If I find myself getting stuck on getting to work setting up a 1-2 hour session is usually enough to get me into the zone.

Usual objections are, "But I need to look stuff up online." Usually you don't. Get local copies of your API docs, and get used to searching through existing code for solutions. I'd say that usually I can find an example of whatever I'm trying to solve with grep + spotlight almost as fast as I could find it online and there's not the extra cost of potentially ending up in a surfing session.

stcredzero• 17 years ago

Instead of taking away all network, what about your own configurable proxy server? All I need is some sort of periodic restriction on my favorite procrastination sites. (Like Hacker News)

I couldn't use a total network restriction for my current work. I need to interface with stuff I can't install on my own machine. (Legacy enterprise software running in a basement data-center room.)

MikeCapone• 17 years ago

Yeah, I know that a Real Productive Person(tm) should answer: "Just stop trying to find a widget that will make your more productive and get on with the work, dammit!"

But I think that different people can get to the same place using different roads. To some the "helpers" might be superfluous and pure willpower is all that is required. To others they might help give a necessary extra push.

I'm definitely looking forward to trying some of the "isolator" types of software, because I find that I'm usually distracted by others thing that I see around on my desktop (they're just so tempting to quickly switch to, just to check if XYZ..). Maybe if I see fewer of those others thing I'll be less tempted to switch to them.

Worth a shot. Won't replace discipline, but hey, everybody seems to think that an uncluttered desk, an uncluttered office (an uncluttered life!) are the way to go. Same should work for my virtual desktop.

lupin_sansei• 17 years ago

Here's a nice free one for Firefox to block out sites that distract you https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476

fr0z3nph03n1x• 17 years ago

I like Spirited Away.http://drikin.com/spiritedaway/ I found it a long time ago, it auto hides windows that have not been active in a long time, keeps things simple.

wrinklz2• 17 years ago

We should add Guest Login to the list. Because nothing focuses the mind like total data loss. (OK it almost certainly affects productivity, but 1 out of 2 ain't bad.)

wrinklz2• 17 years ago

Multitasking is often necessary but can decrease focus and productivity, I agree. But I often require several apps to complete a single task. So hiding apps wouldn't help me be productive. I find judicial use of "Spaces" along with 2 or three large monitors helpd me quickly focus on the task at hand and get the job done. I like to keep the finder open in all Spaces. And learn the key commands for tabbing through windows and applications, etc.

ilitirit• 17 years ago

This doesn't really seem like it belongs on HN...

OSX Apps To Help You Focus & Be Productive

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