15 open source tools to improve your productivity

  • Open source tools improve productivity at no cost, offering alternatives to expensive software.
  • Software customization allows it to be adapted to the specific needs of each user.
  • Support communities make it easier to learn and improve tools.
  • Wellness-focused apps help maintain high productivity and mental health.

15 open source tools to improve your productivity

The tools to improve productivity They are the order of the day. There are more and more of them and they are more effective, which is a sign that we are all concerned about this issue and we are looking for technology that can help us better manage the time we have to work or study.

If you want to be more productive and you don't know how to achieve it, on this occasion we are going to recommend open source tools that will be very useful to you. Go ahead and try them and you won't regret it.

Why use open source tools to improve productivity?

There are many reasons why this software is becoming a very popular choice among users worldwide. Here are the most notable ones.

zero cost

Most of these applications are free. There is no need to purchase expensive licenses like those of Microsoft 365 to be able to enjoy them.

Flexibility and customization

As a user you have direct access to the source code, and this means that you can customize the tool to your needs. This is good news, because it means thatand you don't depend on updates from the main developer to adapt the software to what you need.

Plus, you can integrate it into your existing workflows to create a highly customized solution that's just right for you.

Community and support

There is always a very active community of users around these tools who share their knowledge, resolve others' doubts and develop improvements together.

If you need support, you will easily find it through forums and different online tutorials that are available to everyone.

Security

man in suit with security logo.

Open source allows vulnerabilities in the program to be quickly identified and corrected by the community. This also reduces the risk of malicious functionality is included without anyone noticing.

Tools to improve productivity: open source technology

Here is a selection that will help you manage the different tasks you have to tackle throughout your day:

To take notes

  • CherryTree. It allows you to organize your notes based on a tree structure, which makes it easier to access and classify information. Although you can use it for complex projects that require a lot of documentation, it is in the creation of quick notes where it offers its best performance.
  • Joplin. It is a highly recommended tool within the open source software user community, because it syncs across multiple devices and supports various file formats.
  • Turtle. If you are concerned about privacy, this tool allows you to take notes and applies end-to-end encryption to provide maximum protection for your information.
  • Mininote. It is a simple and user-friendly software with a very easy-to-use interface. It allows you to quickly take notes and format them. It also has a tagging system that makes searching for information much easier.

To manage time

If you've already discovered everything the Pomodoro method can do for your productivity, you need a tool that helps you measure your "pomodoros." Those 25-minute intervals in which you're going to be completely focused on a task.

To divide your work time into blocks, and even keep track of the tasks you are carrying out, you have two interesting open source options:

  • Gnome Pomodoro.
  • Super Productivity.

To manage projects and tasks

Group of people managing tasks

When there is a lot to do, planning becomes essential, and this is even more important when you are working in a team and it is essential that everyone knows what they have to do.

Fortunately, there are open source productivity tools that can help us with this complex task:

  • gitlab. It provides us with a complete platform for project management in which we can exercise total control over the workflow.
  • Kanboard. It is a very visual tool that allows you to organize information on Kanban boards. It has the advantage of being very easy to use and customize, which makes it very easy to manage individual or team projects.
  • WikiSuite. Designed for teamwork, it contains several applications that help manage different aspects of daily life, including email. One strong point in its favor is that it especially protects security and privacy.

To block distractions

Distractions are the worst enemy of our productivity, because they “steal” the time we have available to do important tasks.

If distractions have become a problem for you, technology offers you alternatives to end them quickly and easily. Try:

  • SelfControl (for macOS). With it, you can block access to those websites where you end up spending more minutes than you would like. It can even prevent you from accessing the Internet for a certain period of time.
  • FocusWriter. Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux, this is a writing tool that ensures a distraction-free environment. It doesn't block websites, but it will help you stay focused on what you're doing.

To promote well-being

Frustrated woman in front of a laptop

Productivity is closely related to our well-being. Because if we are not feeling well, we will not be as productive as we want to be.

That's why open source applications that promote healthy habits in the digital age are becoming a trend. You can try these:

  • habitica. It gamifies your healthy habits and rewards you when you drink water or get up a few minutes after an hour of work.
  • Insight Timer. It is a tool with guided meditations that helps you introduce moments of mindfulness into your workday.
  • Safe Eyes. It sends you reminders to take your eyes off the screen for a few minutes, thus protecting your eye health.
  • Workrave. It suggests that you take short breaks and do exercises to avoid everything from eye strain to carpal tunnel syndrome.

These productivity-enhancing tools are completely free and will surely come in handy in your daily life. Do you want to try them?


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