14/04/2025

LYFE MONDAY | APR 14, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Ű BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR

I T is paramount to be productive in this age of digital efficiency, particularly for those seeking to streamline their work, school and personal organisation. A vast catalogue of free online tools exists to help users achieve precisely that. Those seeking to manage tasks, collaborate with teams or improve focus, these platforms offer powerful solutions at no cost. A visual task management tool based on the Kanban system, Trello allows users to create boards, lists and cards to organise projects. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, it is particularly useful for teams and individuals who need a structured workflow. 0 Todoist A sleek, efficient to-do list app, Todoist works by helping users to prioritise and track tasks with due dates, project categorisation and collaborative features. The free version includes basic task management and productivity Notion is a versatile productivity tool that combines note-taking, project management and database functions. Its free version allows individuals to create personal dashboards, plan projects and take detailed notes, making it an all-in one solution for students and professionals. Running in the background, RescueTime tracks the time that users have spent on various activities. It provides detailed reports and productivity scores, allowing users to optimise how they allocate their time. 0 Forest Forest helps users stay focused by gamifying the Pomodoro Technique. Users plant a virtual tree that grows when they remain productive. If they leave the app, the tree dies, encouraging them to stay tracking. 0 Notion Time management and focus 0 RescueTime Task management and organisation 0 Trello

Google Workspace has an entire suite catered to every demand. – G-WORKPLACEPIC

Free productivity tools

o Discover best free online apps, websites to boost efficiency in work, school, personal organisation

and file sharing. The free version supports integrations with other productivity apps and up to 10,000 searchable messages. 0 Google Workspace Google’s suite of

on task.

Collaboration communication 0 Slack A widely used team communication platform, Slack offers channels for group

and

productivity tools – Docs, Sheets, Drive and Meet – provides s e am l e s s collaboration in real time. Google Docs and Sheets allow teams to work on

discussions, d i r e c t messaging

documents simultaneously, while Google Drive stores and organises files securely. Google Meet enables free video conferencing with up to 100 participants. 0 Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams provides free team collaboration tools, including video meetings, chat and document sharing. While the premium version offers additional features, the free tier is sufficient for many remote teams and students. Dropbox provides 2GB of free cloud storage, allowing users to store and share files easily. It also integrates with many third-party productivity apps. 0 Evernote This note-taking application helps users organise thoughts, tasks and research. With features like text recognition in images and voice memo recording, it is a powerful tool for personal and professional use. File storage and organisation 0 Dropbox Basic

0 Google Keep Google Keep is a lightweight note-taking app that syncs across devices. It allows users to create color-coded notes, set reminders and share ideas easily. artificial intelligence (AI)-powered writing assistant that checks grammar, spelling and clarity. The free version offers essential corrections and suggestions to improve writing quality. 0 Hemingway Editor Aimed at improving writing readability, Hemingway Editor highlights complex sentences and suggests simpler alternatives. It is ideal for students, professionals and content creators. Writing and editing 0 Grammarly Grammarly is an

0 Zoho Writer Zoho Writer is a free cloud-based word processor with collaborative features, document templates and AI-powered editing suggestions. It is an excellent alternative to Google Docs. With so many free productivity tools available, finding the right combination depends on individual needs. Whether managing projects, improving focus or collaborating remotely, these tools empower users to work smarter, not harder. As remote work and digital learning continue to evolve, leveraging these resources can make a significant difference in efficiency and success. By combining multiple tools, users can create a personalised productivity system that enhances their workflow and organisation.

Though gamified, Forest is still primarily a productivity tool. – FORESTAPPPIC