5 Ways to Improve Your Workflow with Apps for Mac and iOS

by Daniel Raymond · April 18, 2024

Whether you’re a professional seeking to optimize your workflow, a student aiming to streamline your study habits, or a creative artist exploring tools to enhance your projects, suitable applications can make a significant difference. Mac and iOS devices are known for their sleek design and robust performance, and when paired with powerful apps, they can significantly enhance your productivity. Here are five ways to improve your work with some of the best apps available for Mac and iOS.

Table of Contents

1. Task Management with Things 3

Effective task management is essential for staying organized and meeting your responsibilities. Things 3 is an all-in-one task management solution that helps you seamlessly manage your projects and to-dos across all your Apple devices. With a clean and intuitive interface, Things 3 allows you to create projects, set deadlines, and organize tasks into categories. The app supports Siri shortcuts, making adding tasks just by speaking easy. Moreover, its integration with the Calendar app ensures you never miss a deadline. By using Things 3, you can declutter your mind, prioritize what’s important, and stay focused throughout the day.

2. Note-Taking with Bear

For those who need to jot down notes, whether for meetings, lectures, or creative brainstorming, Bear offers a versatile and powerful note-taking experience. This app combines simplicity with powerful features, allowing you to create and organize notes using tags and pinning quickly. Bear supports Markdown, which lets you format your notes and add links, images, and files. It also offers themes and typography options to customize the look of your workspace. Synced across all your devices via iCloud, Bear ensures that your notes are always accessible, whether on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone.

3. Document and PDF Management with PDF Expert

In any professional environment, handling PDF files efficiently is a common requirement. PDF Expert by Readdle is a robust tool for reading, annotating, and editing PDF documents. Its user-friendly interface lets you quickly add annotations, merge files, and even fill out forms directly on your device. PDF Expert also supports OCR (Optical Character Recognition), which lets you search text within scanned documents. Whether you’re a student needing to highlight textbook PDFs, a lawyer reviewing contracts, or a manager assembling reports, PDF Expert provides a comprehensive solution for managing complex documents on your Mac and iOS devices.

4. Advanced Email Management with Spark

Managing emails effectively can be daunting, especially when dealing with multiple accounts or high volumes of correspondence. Spark by Readdle is an email client that revolutionizes how you handle your inbox. It offers a more innovative, faster method to manage emails with features like Smart Inbox, which automatically categorizes emails into personal, notification, and newsletter sections. Spark’s natural language search makes finding old emails more accessible than ever, and its quick replies feature helps you respond faster. For teams, Spark’s collaborative features allow for real-time drafting and sharing of emails, making it an ideal choice for workplace communication.

5. Streamlining App Discovery and Access with Setapp

Finding and managing the right apps can become a chore in a world brimming with specialized software for various tasks. Setapp offers a unique solution that simplifies this process by providing a subscription-based service that gives users access to a curated collection of apps for Mac and iOS. Think of it as a ‘Netflix for apps’, where, for a single monthly fee, you gain access to a comprehensive software suite covering a wide range of needs from productivity and task management to creative design and system maintenance.

The most impactful ways to improve productivity on a Mac are surprisingly easy. Just boost the speed of a mouse pointer and be amazed at how much faster you can get things done. Another trick is changing the folder color on your Mac desktop. The best part is that you can do it with the built-in Preview app. Click here to learn the exact steps to follow to get colorful folders. It can work the same way as tags but provides a much more visual way to separate topics in each folder.

Conclusion

Leveraging powerful apps on your Mac and iOS devices can transform how you work, study, or create. From organizing your tasks with Things 3 to handling emails efficiently with Spark, each app offers unique benefits designed to boost your productivity and enhance your digital experience. By integrating these tools into your daily routine, you can make the most of your Apple devices and achieve tremendous success and satisfaction in your personal and professional life. Whether managing complex projects, taking extensive notes, or unleashing your creative potential, an app on the Mac and iOS platforms can cater to your needs and elevate your capabilities.