The Productivity Stack: 5 Essential Tools That Actually Save You Time

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Todoist has been one of the first productivity apps I have ever used. And I’m glad it still works almost the same way today — simple, efficient, no fancy, useless features.

During my university years, I used it to track the chapters or paragraphs I needed to study. And I kept using it also during my first job when I had to track many todos a day.

Over the last few years, they introduced prioritization with color coding and syncing. But the core remained the same — a fast and reliable to-do list you can use for anything from your home chores, to the shopping list, or simple reminders.

Todoist is ideal for quickly noting and managing daily tasks without wasting time or effort.

Notion is not only an app for me — it’s my entire productivity system.

Everything from my notes to my business projects lives there. With Notion, I stopped jumping between apps and started managing my life from a single place.

The Second Brain concept changed how I approached productivity forever. And Notion was the perfect tool to build it. My Second Brain template helped me capture every thought , project, and goal systematically. It’s not a quick-fix tool — it requires setup — but the payoff is massive.

Notion, paired with my Second Brain template, is unbeatable for organizing complex information, managing long-term projects, and maintaining clarity.

I always hated timers. They felt stressed and made productivity feel like a chore. But one day, I found Forest.

Many of you will think it’s only another timer app. But Forest is much more. During my first university years, it helped me gamify my productivity by planting virtual trees whenever I was focused.

It sounds silly, but it’s incredibly effective. You plant a tree, set a timer, and your tree grows as long as you stay off your phone. Get distracted? The tree dies. Seeing my forest grow week by week turned my focus into a fun challenge rather than a punishment.

Forest is a playful yet powerful way to conquer distractions, reduce procrastination, and make deep work sessions genuinely enjoyable.

If you’re like me, you highlight hundreds of insightful sentences in books, articles, and podcasts. But how often do you actually revisit them?

Probably never. I never did it once until I found Readwise.

This tool automatically syncs and organizes your highlights, delivering daily reminders straight to your inbox or integrating directly into Notion. With its spaced repetition, Readwise transformed my scattered notes into actionable knowledge. Now, I actually remember and apply what I learn, turning passive reading into active growth.

Readwise bridges the gap between reading and real-world application, effortlessly enhancing how you retain and use new ideas.

I’ve always struggled with consistent journaling. It felt forced, unnatural, even tedious. But that changed completely when I found Stoic.

This minimalistic journaling app doesn’t overwhelm you with blank pages. Instead, it guides you with daily prompts, mood trackers, and reflections that feel meaningful.

Stoic has become my emotional anchor, helping me clear my mind, manage stress, and gain clarity on my goals — essential for maintaining sustainable productivity.

Stoic is a simple, thoughtful companion that significantly enhances emotional clarity, helping me stay productive without burning out.

Most productivity tools today are a trap. They promise structure but deliver chaos. They make you feel busy instead of helping you get things done. That’s why I cut through the noise and shared only the five apps that saved me time.

Now, it’s your turn to test them.

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