Managing time and staying productive is a challenge for academics. They need to balance their research with teaching and administrative tasks. It gets more complicated when working in teams. This is why productivity tools with time tracking software like Controlio can make all the difference.
Here are five useful tools for academics who want to take control of their time and manage their tasks.
- Controlio
For detailed time-tracking, activity monitoring, and productivity data insights – few can match Controlio. It will automatically track how time is spent, detect idleness, and provide detailed analytics that help academics identify patterns in work habits that affect their productivity.
The robust features in Controlio give it the ability to also enhance transparency and planning. However it may not be ideal for academics whose work is not performed on computers.
- Trello
As arguably the most popular visual project management tool available, Trello can help academics organize tasks and deadlines. Boards can be created for different research projects, courses, or administrative duties – then cards for each task can be added and prioritized while tracking their progress.
In short, Trello helps academics stay on top of their workload. It can complement time-tracking data, and supports several integrations with popular time-tracking tools.
- Toggl Track
Known for being simple yet effective, Toggl Track has both automated, manual, and timer-based time-tracking, as well as mobile apps – making it a flexible option for academics who may have projects that take them away from their computer. Owing to its project management features, it can also keep tasks organized and generate reports analyzing where time is being spent.
- Pomofocus
Pomofocus is a simple tool based on the Pomodoro technique. The technique breaks down work into focused periods of 25 minutes followed by 5 to 15 minute breaks. Structuring sessions this way will let academics improve their concentration and reduce the risk of burnout.
The Pomofocus app itself is basic and does not feature advanced features or detailed analytics. However it is good at what it does. Its simplicity makes it versatile for academics to use it for research projects and courses. They can also use it for tasks like reading, writing, and grading papers.
- StayFocused
Academics are just as human as anyone else. Many find their attention drifting to social media or other time-wasting sites. StayFocused is a Chrome extension that attempts to fix that. It can be set up to allocate a fixed amount of time to certain sites and leaving it inaccessible once that time is up.
StayFocused helps academics ensure they don’t waste too much of their time by placing limits on distractions.
Conclusion
Every academic should make it a point to check out time tracking software like Controlio. They should also check the other tools listed above. Using them can have an impact on productivity. It will also ensure academics are focused and organized. They will also be able to shoulder their workload more easily.