Below are some useful apps and techniques to help you sharpen your focus and keep yourself on track: 

Staying Productive

Flipd

Can’t put down that phone? The Flipd app has dozens of fun ways to help you categorize and track how well you are spending your time and minimise distractions to keep you focused.

Focusmate

If you find it more productive to work with others, this app can help you to create virtual coworking opportunities. This recreates an office or library environment where you work quietly together with others

Forest

Perhaps you’d like to turn your distraction into something positive? The Forest app gamifies productivity – once you install the app, you can grow a tree for a set amount of time. Failure to stay focused will cause the tree to die. You can even use coins you earn in the app to help plant real trees across the world!

Freedom

The Freedom app allows you to block websites and apps which cause you the biggest distractions. What makes it especially useful is the ability to sync across your different devices.

Pomodoro

Similar to Strict Workflow, the Pomodoro Technique uses a timer to break down work into 25 minute intervals, separated by short breaks.

RescueTime

Understanding what distracts you is the first step to becoming more focused. RescueTime tracks your activity to help you understand your habits and exactly what it is that's distracting you – perhaps you’ll discover which sites you ought to be spending less time on.

Space

The Space App is a personalised behaviour change programme designed to help you think about how you use your phone and how it affects your life. It allows you to set goals and track your daily progress to help you break free from your device.

Strict Workflow

This simple browser extensions allows you to temporarily block websites, enforcing a cycle of 25 minutes of distraction-free work followed by a 5-minute break.

FLOWN

Imperial College students and staff now have access to FLOWN (sign up for free using your Imperial College email) , an online co-working platform designed to help improve relationships, focus, and productivity. FLOWN’s facilitator-led sessions create structured, distraction-free time blocks that support deeper concentration for work and study.

When you join a session, you’ll set an intention for what you want to accomplish before working alongside your peers. FLOWN offers one and two-hour sessions from 8:30 AM to 1AM daily, alongside a 24-hour Drop-In room that can be accessed anytime.

FLOWN also runs sessions for planning, meditation, journaling, creative breaks, and guided breathwork to help you recharge. You can also set up private study sessions for other Imperial College students.