1. Grammar/spelling checker
Now you could take extensive English grammar workshops to improve your grammar or you could be like me and just install an app for it and proceed with your day of procrastinating.
Examples include: Grammarly, LanguageTool, or Microsoft Editor
2. Reference manager
Reference managers are possibly one of the most important extensions you will need during your PhD program.
Unless you are one of those people who hate having free time and like doing this … by hand.
Examples include: Endnote, Mendeley, and Zotero.
3. To-do list / Calendar
One thing is certain and that is that as overworked PhD students we need something to help keep track of everything we have going on and help increase our productivity.
Examples include: Todoist, TickTick , Google Tasks
5. Time Tracker
We all get distracted and might open a youtube video while working a on task. What the time tracker extensions do is give you clear information on where your time is going.
Examples include: Clockify Time Tracker, Web activity Time tracker, or Timenotes
6. Read Later
Read later apps help you convert the bad distractions like scrolling through social media into better distractions like reading about a topic you are interested in.
Examples include: Pocket , Instapaper, Evernote web clipper, and Notion web clipper
7. Tab Manager
What if you could place all the tabs specific to work together and all the tabs specific to hobbies or purchases together?
Yes, that technology does exist in the form of a tab manager.
Examples include: Tab manager plus, Workona, Cluster , and Tablerone
8. PDF Editor
At some point or another during your PhD you’re gonna need to do some of this because your institute or department needs some files from you and so you might as well start optimizing your PDF handling now.
Examples include: pdf2go, PDFzorro, and AdobeAcrobat
9. BONUS: Screen Recorder
Ever had to explain to someone how to do something then you might be better off recording the screen while you do it and explain it.
Examples include: Loom, awesome screenshot and screen recorder, and Nimbus
TL;DR: 8 Must-Have Types of Extensions To Boost Productivity
1. Grammar/Spelling Checker
2. Reference Manager
3. To-do list / Calendar
4. Focus Timer
5. Time Tracker
6. Read Later
7. Tab Manager
8. PDF Editor
Bonus: Screen Recorder
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4. Focus Timer
There are a variety of ways to combat a lack of focus but one way that I’ve found that works for me is to use a focus timer.
Fortunately, there is an extension or several for that.
Examples include: Forest, Focus To-Do, and Tide
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