Smart devices are supposed to increase efficiency and productivity by allowing users to connect at any time from any location.  In fact, smartphones and time-sucking websites cost U.S. companies an estimated $650 billion dollars per year and 53% of workers admit these distractions negatively affects their productivity.  Fortunately there are a number of great apps that are designed to help you manage your time.  In this month’s installment of our Mobile Apps Series we will cover some of our favorites.

RescueTime

How many times have you gotten distracted browsing the web or playing with apps only to find that half the morning has passed you by and you haven’t accomplished anything? RescueTime will block website deemed to be a distraction and will monitor your activities on website and apps.  You will get a detailed report showing just how you’ve spent your day.

Launchy

Digging for commonly used files, folders and websites can take a ridiculous amount of time. Launchy opens work-related programs and files with just a few keystrokes.

30/30

One of the pitfalls of time management is underestimating the time it will take to complete a task.  With 30/30, you can set an estimated time limit for a specific task and then see if you spent more time on the project than you estimated or finished faster that you thought you would.