Working From Home With Apps the Wirecutter Staff Uses

You have set up your home office. There is an afternoon snack and water price at your desk. Dull to do disturb set. But even with a big deadline, you can’t help relieve the itch to check Facebook.

It is hard to stay focused on work, and it is even more difficult when you are dealing with the problems of working from home. As more and more people are working remotely to help prevent the spread of coronovirus, we decided to round up some of our staff’s favorite apps to stay on track.

Snag a website blocker

I come to Twitter so often that as soon as I open a new tab I sometimes find myself typing “tw” in the URL bar. With the help of SelfControl, you can blacklist websites of your choice until your access to Twitter is blocked and other rabbit holes with the message “This site cannot be reached”. There is no easy way to turn it off. It is a nuclear option for those who are fed up with negotiating with their irresponsible side.

Try the pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro technique is a popular way to manage time by focusing on time with short breaks. Focus Keeper (available for iOS and Android), liked by Wirecutter’s senior staff writer Lauren Dragon, is one of several available apps that adopt this philosophy; We particularly like it because of its attractive design and ability to track focus over time.

Want something more out of the box? Update writer Jordan McMahon surprisingly likes the eccentric Bear Focus Timer (iOS or Android). Start a 25-minute timer for intense focus and finally enjoy your five-minute break. Then repeat.

Dim Desktop Distracted

If you often find yourself lost in a forest of open windows on your desktop, HazeOver (recommended by staff writer Melanie Pinola) may be a solution. Available for Mac, the app turns your trackpad into a dial controlled with a gesture, which removes all of the windows you open. When you use it to the best effect, it is like shining a light on the spot you should be focusing on.

Grow a small garden with your attention

Once you have your computer on lockdown, it can be tempting for your distracted brain to turn on the apps on your phone. Wirecutter’s creator Beth Negelski likes Forrest (Finding it for iOS or Android), which gives you a gentle incentive to leave your phone alone. When you fire up the app, you plant a seed in your digital garden; Leave the app open for an extended time on your phone, and it grows in a tree. If you leave the app, the tree dies. Is Reddit Binge really worth killing your leafy new friend?