Top 5 tools to boost your productivity as a student

University life is a juggling act. Between lectures, assignments, part-time jobs, and a social life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But with the right tools in your digital toolkit, you can transform how you manage your time and tasks, leaving you more space to focus on what truly matters. Whether you’re struggling to meet deadlines or want to make your study sessions more efficient, here are five powerful tools to help you boost your productivity as a student.

1. Task management apps: Todoist

Ever find yourself with a mountain of tasks and no idea where to start? That’s where task management apps like Todoist shine. Todoist is simple yet powerful, allowing you to create to-do lists, organise tasks by projects (or courses), and set deadlines with ease.

What sets Todoist apart is its natural language input. You can type something like “Finish research by Friday” or “Group meeting every Tuesday at 2 PM,” and the app will automatically schedule it for you. Plus, its priority labelling system helps you focus on the most important tasks first.

For students juggling multiple courses, extracurriculars, and personal commitments, Todoist keeps everything in one place - helping you visualise what needs to get done, when. The sense of satisfaction from checking off completed tasks can also give you the momentum to keep going.

Our tip: Integrate Todoist with other tools like Google Calendar so that you can visualise your deadlines along with your daily schedule.

App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

2. Note-taking tools: Notion

Taking notes is a staple of university life, but keeping them organised can be a challenge. Enter Notion, an all-in-one workspace that’s ideal for students who want to consolidate their notes, projects, and even to-do lists in one platform.

Notion allows you to create separate pages for different subjects, organise notes in folders, and even collaborate with classmates. You can embed videos, add tables, and format your notes for easy review. Whether you prefer typing lecture notes or organising research papers, Notion adapts to your workflow.

One of Notion’s standout features is its database system, where you can track ongoing projects, manage reading lists, or create revision checklists. And since everything syncs across devices, your notes are always available - whether you’re on your laptop in class or reviewing them on your phone during a coffee break.

Our tip: Use Notion’s templates for coursework tracking or exam preparation to save time and keep everything streamlined.

App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

3. Pomodoro timers: Focus Keeper

When you have hours of work ahead, it can be tough to stay focused. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique comes in - a productivity method that breaks your work into 25-minute focused intervals, followed by short breaks. This helps prevent burnout and keeps your concentration sharp.

Focus Keeper is a simple yet effective Pomodoro timer designed specifically for students and professionals. It helps you break down work into manageable intervals while offering a user-friendly design. It also provides insights into your productivity trends with built-in tracking and reporting features.

The structured breaks help to recharge your brain, reducing the fatigue that comes with long study sessions. Plus, knowing you only have to focus for 25 minutes at a time makes tackling difficult tasks more manageable.

Our tip: Pair Focus Keeper with Notion or Todoist to break larger projects into manageable Pomodoro sessions.

App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

4. Collaboration platforms: Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace

Group projects are an inevitable part of university life, but coordinating with team members can be a nightmare. Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace take the headache out of group communication and collaboration.

Microsoft Teams is a robust collaboration platform designed for team communication and productivity, offering features like chat, file sharing, and video conferencing in one seamless interface. It allows users to create dedicated channels for specific projects or courses, making it easier for you to collaborate on group assignments in real time. Teams integrates effortlessly with Microsoft Office tools like Word, Excel, and OneDrive, enabling shared editing and file management.

On the other hand, Google Workspace (which includes tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Drive) allows for seamless real-time collaboration on documents and presentations. Multiple people can work on the same file simultaneously, making it easier to complete group projects efficiently, no matter where your team is located.

Our tip: Use Microsoft Teams to create dedicated channels for each group project and Google Workspace for collaborative note-taking during study sessions.

Microsoft Teams: 
App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

Google Docs:
App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

Google Sheets:
App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

Google Drive:
App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

5. Focus apps: Forest and Freedom

Maintaining focus in the age of constant digital distractions is harder than ever. Luckily, apps like Forest and Freedom are designed to help you stay on task and minimise distractions.

Forest turns focus into a game. Every time you start a work session, you plant a virtual tree. The longer you focus, the bigger your tree grows - but if you leave the app to check social media or browse the web, your tree withers away. Not only does this keep you motivated to stay focused, but it also helps you visualise your productivity progress. Plus, the app partners with real-world tree-planting organisations, so your focus could result in actual trees being planted.

Freedom, on the other hand, blocks distracting websites and apps across all your devices. You can create custom blocklists or schedule focus sessions where you are completely free of distractions like social media, gaming, or non-essential browsing.

Our tip: Set up Forest for short study sessions and Freedom for long focus periods when you need to dive deep into projects without interruptions.

Forest:
App Store  ($3.99)
Google Play (free)

Freedom:
App Store (free)
Google Play (free)

Whether you’re breaking down your to-do list, organising notes in, or keeping distractions at bay, these tools are designed to make your life easier and more efficient. By incorporating them into your daily routine, you’ll not only boost your productivity but also create more time for relaxation and fun. Take charge of your university experience with these five essential tools and watch your productivity soar!