The 7 Best Productivity Tools for Shift Work

Shift workers can gain immense help and insight from productivity apps. More than often, they need help to remain productive due to their erratic and unpredictable shift timelines.

Some of these apps can help shift workers organize their lives, from shift planning to getting a proper night’s (or day’s) sleep. If you are a shift worker aiming for productivity, the following app list will likely be a game changer.

Let’s look at the seven best tools for shift work productivity.

1. Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a versatile time management software that tracks your billable hours on a shift. You can log and follow all your work hours, projects, and tasks on this app, preventing loss of wages.

It tracks your work hours and lets you compare your hourly wage effectively. This app examines whether you’re overworking or being less productive during your shifts.

Toggl Track has a Pomodoro timer feature for focused productivity and insights. It also enables you to create PDF Time Reports along the way. Moreover, this app lets you increase productivity by observing your work patterns and better managing your time.

Download: Windows | MacOS | Android | iOS (Free; In-App Purchases Available)

2. My Shift Planner

My Shift Planner is a customizable shift work app that lets you view your upcoming shifts. Similar to a calendar app, this app has an in-built roster that will help you keep track of your shift timings, time-offs and shift changes in the upcoming days.

You can also alter your shift patterns on this app. With added features like tracked work hours and automatic notifications about shift changes, this app can help maximize your productivity on shifts and your day offs.

This all-in-one shift planning app lets you stay organized and control your work-life balance.

Download: Android | iOS (Free; In-App Purchases Available)

3. Todoist

Todoist is a popular task management tool that lets you stay on top of all your daily activities. From tasks related to work, personal goals, and other chores, this app can help you maintain a work-life balance.

Todoist can be the ultimate companion for ensuring your professional and personal to-dos are easily tackled. If you are a shift worker who wishes to be more productive outside your work hours, you can also set up location-based reminders on the app.

This way, you will likely remember and complete all your pending tasks that need attention beyond work.

Download: Windows | MacOS | Android | iOS (Free; In-App Purchases Available)

Zapier is a workflow automation tool that handles all your repetitive tasks. It comes in handy if you work various shifts each week. You can integrate multiple apps into this tool to automate actions ranging from making social media posts, recording customer responses to sending emails.

After you link your desired schedule with the appropriate apps through Zapier, actions are triggered automatically. Activities are completed successfully without your intervention, saving you time and effort.

Furthermore, this flexibility to time your tasks ensures tasks are completed despite shifting schedules, helping you maintain an online presence and communication even when you are not on your shift.

5. Focus To-Do

Working long shifts can be strenuous on the mind and body. Taking breaks while working is just as important as getting all your work done within the set timeframe. In this regard, the Pomodoro technique has proven to be quite helpful.

Based on this technique, Focus To-Do is a minimalist break reminder app. It sets a countdown timer while you work and then sends a notification reminding you to take a break. You can use the Pomodoro break mindfully to prevent stress and burnout.

This app can help you maintain efficiency by balancing focus-oriented deep work with premeditated breaks in between.

Download: Windows | MacOS | Android | iOS (Free; In-App Purchases Available)

6. Sleep Cycle

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Most Shift workers complain of disrupted sleep routines that need fixing. It is common knowledge that a lack of good sleep can lead to a loss of productivity. With that in mind, the Sleep Cycle app analyzes your sleep patterns, only to wake you up (with its alarm clock feature) when it feels you’ve rested adequately.

It provides personal advice on your sleep health and calming white noises to help you sleep during non-conventional hours. Sleep Cycle notes your sleep quality based on your sounds during your resting hours.

Its ability to track circadian rhythms and changes in your body clocks while sleeping can become your ultimate sleep improvement tool.

Download: Android | iOS (Free; In-App Purchases Available)

7. MyFitnessPal

For shift workers, maintaining personal health and fitness can be challenging. My Fitness Pal is a unique health app that acts as a calorie counter and BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) regulator, while providing users with healthy recipes and meal reminders.

Unhealthy eating during long work hours can harm you in the long term. With My Fitness Pal, you can create custom meal categories, including water, to keep a log of all your meal consumptions throughout your shifts.

Additionally, this app lets you set reminders for meals and water intake. For instance, you can set up repeating push notifications as reminders that “disturb” you enough to take action.

Download: Android | iOS (Free; In-App Purchases Available)

Shift to Smarter Productivity Today

Productivity apps can be beneficial for shift workers who frequently battle unpredictable schedules. These apps try to cover all bases, from better sleep to organized shift planning.

Shift workers can be just as productive as traditional workers. If you’re a shift worker looking to increase productivity, these apps can completely change your daily routine.