As someone who values efficiency and organisation, I’ve always been on the lookout for tools that enhance my productivity. Over the years, I’ve curated a set of apps that have transformed the way I work on my Mac. These tools aren’t just useful; they’ve become indispensable in my daily life. Here’s a look at my favourites and why they might be worth trying out.

Stay: Window Management Made Easy

Ever get frustrated with rearranging your windows every time you connect or disconnect an external monitor? Stay solves this problem by saving and restoring window layouts. Whether I’m working on a single screen or a dual-monitor setup, Stay ensures my workspace remains exactly as I need it. It’s a lifesaver for multitasking and keeps me focused instead of fiddling with windows.

Rectangle: Simple Window Snapping

While Stay is great for managing entire layouts, Rectangle shines in its simplicity. With intuitive keyboard shortcuts, it lets me snap and resize windows to specific parts of the screen. Whether I need to compare documents side-by-side or focus on a single app, Rectangle is my go-to tool for quick adjustments. It’s lightweight, fast, and perfectly complements Stay.

Raycast: Your Command Centre

Raycast is like Spotlight on steroids. It’s not just about launching apps; it’s a command centre that streamlines countless tasks. From searching files and managing calendar events to running custom scripts, Raycast makes my Mac feel smarter. Its sleek design and extensive plugin library mean I can customise it to fit my workflow perfectly.

Espanso: Text Expansion Reimagined

Espanso has been a game-changer for repetitive typing tasks. It’s a text expander that lets me create custom snippets for phrases, email templates, or even code blocks. For example, typing :email instantly expands into my full email signature. It’s open-source and highly customisable, making it a powerful yet simple tool to save time.

Flycut: Clipboard Manager Extraordinaire

If you’ve ever lost something you copied a minute ago, Flycut is here to help. It keeps a history of everything I copy, allowing me to access past clipboard entries with ease. This is especially handy when working on projects that require frequent switching between code, text, and links. It’s one of those tools you never knew you needed until you try it.

TextSniper: Instant Text Extraction

TextSniper is like magic for extracting text from images. Whether I’m grabbing text from a screenshot, a PDF, or even a paused video, TextSniper captures it flawlessly. It’s simple to use and has saved me countless hours when working with content that isn’t easily editable.

Motion: Mastering Task and Calendar Management

Motion is my secret weapon for staying organised. It combines task management with intelligent scheduling, automatically fitting tasks into my calendar based on priorities and deadlines. It’s not just a to-do list; it’s a productivity coach that ensures I’m always working on the right thing at the right time.

Arc Browser: Browsing Reimagined

Arc Browser takes a fresh approach to web browsing. With its creative take on tab management, split views, and workspaces, Arc helps me keep my browsing clutter-free. Its design-first philosophy makes it a joy to use, and the ability to group tabs by projects keeps everything neatly organised.

Obsidian: A Second Brain for Knowledge Management

Obsidian is where all my ideas and notes live. Its unique linking system transforms notes into a network of interconnected knowledge, making it easy to revisit and build upon past thoughts. Whether it’s for work or personal projects, Obsidian has become my digital second brain, helping me stay organised and creative.

Conclusion

Each of these tools has significantly improved the way I work on my Mac. Whether it’s keeping my workspace tidy with Stay and Rectangle, automating tasks with Raycast and Espanso, or organising ideas with Obsidian, these apps are invaluable to me. If you’re looking to take your productivity to the next level, I highly recommend giving these tools a try.

Have your own favourite Mac apps? I’d love to hear about them—leave a comment or get in touch!