4 Mac Apps That Will Help You Become More Focused and Productive

It doesn't matter whether you are finishing a work presentation on your computer or just getting your homework, there will always be some form of distraction to keep you from accomplishing your task. Such distractions can be in the form of checking your emails or Facebook feed, listening to online radio, browsing for the latest in lifestyle, fashion, or anything that interests you.

If you happen to be a Mac user, there are some apps that can help you ward off those distractions and keep you focused on what needs to be done right away. These apps block those services that it thinks you don't need at the moment. So, if that's what you're looking for right now, check out the apps below.

1. SelfControl

We all know that one of the most distracting things when working on a computer is the Internet. If you know that your computer has Internet access, it's hard to fight the urge not to open a browser and head to your favorite site or check your Facebook feed. Well, SelfControl lets you block websites you don't want to be distracted by, and it keeps them blocked as long as you want them to be. When the time restriction is up, you can then be able to access those websites you've blocked a while ago.

The app's blacklist is where you can specify those websites that you want to be blocked while you're working on something urgent on your Mac. All the websites you have indicated on the said list will not be accessible until the specified time is over.

The SelfControl app can be downloaded for free from its official website.

2. Focus

Basing on its name, the Focus app helps you stay focused on your actual work by preventing you from accessing social media and other sites on all the browsers on your Mac. You have the liberty to choose which sites you want to be blocked, including Facebook, Reddit, and IMs. Once you have blocked a website, you will see an inspirational quote, which you can customize yourself, to help you get motivated and finish your task right away.

Focus is a geek-friendly app that allows you to use its functions via the Terminal. A few commands from the Terminal, and you should be able to accomplish your work with the app's aid You can download either the trial or the paid version from its official website.

3. WriteRoom

If you're a writer and don't want to get distracted by anything while you're composing your work, then WriteRoom is the perfect app for you. Unlike any other text editor, the app doesn't have any page layouts, tables, or graphs. It's just a plain blank space, so that you can focus on the only thing that you need to do -- write.

And while you're so busy composing that great blog article, it's easy to forget to save your work. There's no need to worry about that part because WriteRoom has an auto-save feature, so that you don't lose your precious work in the event of any unfortunate incident.

WriteRoom is available in both free and paid versions.

4. Time Out

Stressed too much? Time Out is an app that reminds you to take a break once in a while, so you don't get tensed too much and give your tired mind a breather. This app helps you relax and move around after you have been working on your task for quite some time. Included as well is the micro break function that reminds you to take a break, say every ten minutes, and relax for a bit. Sometimes, when we get too much involved in our work, we tend to forget to take a quick break.

Luckily, you can get the Time Out app free of charge from its official website.