Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by the app and is simply a post about my experience.
I used to have a bad relationship with productivity. As a writer, this was the worst because the time I could have spent working on my manuscript, I squandered it on scrolling through my phone. It’s not something I like to admit to people because I’ve always prided myself in my discipline and hard work but there was a time when I did not feel as motivated because of my own self-doubt.
Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
I was determined to break out of my habits. So, I began reading one productivity post after another in hopes of finding a way to get me out of my slump. One of the recommendations was to make use of productivity apps.
One of my favourite apps to use is called Forest.
OVERVIEW
The Forest app was created to help beat phone addiction and overcome distraction. If helps by tracking your focused moments in a simple way i.e. by planting a tree.
If you want to temporarily put down your phone and focus on what’s more important in real life, you can plant a seed in Forest. As time goes by, this seed will gradually grow into a tree. However, if you cannot resist the temptation of using your phone and leave the app, your tree will wither.
The sense of achievement and responsibility will encourage you to stay away from your phone, and will help you make better use of your time. Stop getting distracted by your phone, become self-motivated and get more things done.
– Source
“But why use a productivity app when I can put my phone away?”
A valid question! With the Forest App, I love seeing the trees I have grown. It gives me an added gratification to the word count goal I’ve achieved. I also like tracking how much time I put into certain activities like reading or working on the blog. The Forest app doesn’t allow me to access my phone because if I do my tree withers! So, it makes me even more determined to stay focus on the task at hand.
One of the features that I love, and have yet to try, with the Forest App is that you can also help the environment by plant real trees. The Forest app partners with Trees For The Future, a non-profit organization “using regenerative agriculture training in order to sustainably end poverty for farmers & better the environment. (source)“
My experience using the Forest app has been so simple and yet very rewarding. I have so much fun planting different species of plants on my phone and feeling extremely to see how my little digital forest has grown. I’ll admit how impressed I am by this app which has greatly improved my work ethic while also helping the environment.
Do you use productivity apps?
What are your favourites?
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Note: Header Photo by Kat Stokes on Unsplash
Camillea Reads 
Ahhhh, I feel like I DEFINITELY need something like this, especially with the possibility that my uni might move to purely online teaching. I just have no discipline when I’m studying at home! 😅
💛Ngoc
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Glad you find this app useful! I’ve had it for a few years. It really helps me focus and not ‘just check one quick thing’…
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What a cool idea for an app!
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I tried Forest before and didn’t feel like I had a whole lot of success with it, but this is starting to convince me that maybe I should try it again. Visualizing exactly where I’m spending my time with that ring graph could be super helpful, and I love that they have that partnership to plant more trees!
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