6 Apps for People Who Think They’re Too Busy for Apps

Man checks his Fitbit watch while pushing his bike.

Most people have more than 80 apps installed on their phones—and spend a little more than 2 hours a day using them. That’s a lot of time that might be better spent, well, getting stuff done.

If you suspect you’re too tethered to tech, don’t abandon it, just use it to your advantage. The Fitbit OS apps for Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa called out below are designed to not only save you time, but also increase your productivity. From providing access to your calendar and to-do lists, to teaching you better work habits, these six wrist-based apps will help you simplify your life and get more done.

6 Productivity-Boosting Apps for Busy People on the Go

To Do ListProductivity Apps: To Do ListAvailable on: Ionic, Versa
How it works: Just as its name implies, the To Do List app offers easy access to your list of chores or errands. You’ll need to manually enter your list on your mobile device, but once you do, it will appear in an easy-to-read card format on your smartwatch. Scroll up and down to see the complete list, and check off items as you complete them. To remove items, go back into Settings, click Edit, and delete the chores you’ve finished.

News

Productivity Apps: NewsAvailable on: Ionic, Versa
How it works: In this fast-paced news cycle, you likely feel pressure to stay on top of what’s happening but don’t always have time to turn on the television or log onto your favorite websites. Now you can get the most up-to-date headlines right on your smartwatch. Fitbit’s News app comes preloaded with some of the most popular news sites—The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, Buzzfeed—but you can customize the list and also apply filters, so only the topics you care about (sports, travel, health, etc.) come through. When scrolling through the headlines on your device, bookmark the stories you want to read in full later—you’ll be able to find them under “Saved Articles” in the app’s settings within the Fitbit mobile app.  

Work Flow

Productivity Apps: Work FlowAvailable on: Ionic, Versa
How it works: Workplace distractions are everywhere: Chatty colleagues, cell phone alerts, and internet surfing take up more time than you might realize. In fact, one study found that as many as a third of workers waste up to three hours a day. Enter the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management strategy invented by entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo. The idea is to set a timer for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. (Cirillo used a tomato-shaped timer, hence the name “Pomodoro,” which means “tomato” in Italian.)  After four intervals, you’re entitled to a longer, 15-minute break. The Work Flow app on Fitbit OS follows these classic Pomodoro intervals—your smartwatch vibrates when it’s time to take your break—but you can also customize the durations to fit your own work style.

Upcoming

Productivity Apps: UpcomingAvailable on: Ionic, Versa
How it works: Google Calendar is great for keeping your work, family, and social obligations all in one place. But how many times have you forgotten to check the calendar and missed an important appointment? With Upcoming, you have access to the next 10 events in your Google Calendar—including the time, date, and a brief summary of the event—right on your wrist. Simply install the app, then log into your Google account in the Upcoming app settings within the Fitbit mobile app. The app automatically syncs with your calendar, so newer appointments pop up and older ones drop off.

Travel Times

Productivity Apps: Travel TimesAvailable on: Ionic, Versa
How it works: Have a packed schedule and don’t want to waste a minute? Travel Times lets you see exactly how long it will take you to get home, to daycare to pick up your child before you incur extra charges, to the pharmacy before it closes, or anywhere else you need to be. Simply go into the Travel Times app settings within the Fitbit mobile app and enter up to three destinations. Sync your device and then check your watch to see how much time it will take you to get to each destination, including an estimated time of arrival, or ETA. The app uses Google Maps, so it will continue to update if traffic picks up, allowing you to leave a little earlier—or later—depending on the time of day.

Switchr

Productivity Apps: switchrAvailable on: Ionic, Versa
How it works: If you have web-enabled smart home appliances, you’ll want to download the Switchr app, which allows you to send commands right from your Fitbit device. That’s convenient when you’re away from home and want to make sure you turned off the living room lights, but it’s a virtual lifesaver when you want to turn on the coffeemaker before you even get out of bed. You’ll need a free IFTTT (If This Then That) account and a Web Hook Recipe web link (also from IFTTT) for each device. Switchr allows you to store up to four Web Hook links on your smartwatch, each with their own abbreviated name (i.e. Brew Coffee) and color code.

Get the Apps

If you own an Ionic or Versa and want to download the apps above, you can find them in the Fitbit App Gallery by visiting this link from your smartphone or tablet. Just make sure the Fitbit app is installed on your smartphone or tablet and that you’re logged in.

0 Comments   Join the Conversation

If you have questions about a Fitbit tracker, product availability, or the status of your order, contact our Support Team or search the Fitbit Community for answers.

Please note: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately after submission.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.