Busy people need helpers to make them more productive and save them from the myriad things online that are seemingly conspiring to slow them down. A few simple and free add-ons or extensions can get rid of distractions and roadblocks and increase your productivity by volumes.
LeechBlock (Firefox)
LeechBlock blocks time-wasting websites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. Up to six sets of sites can be blocked by time of day. It can also limit viewing on specified sites. It logs the amount of time spent on each sites so you can monitor usage patterns. Chrome has two similar extensions: Stay Focused and Nanny
AdBlock Plus
AdBlock Plus is the most popular browser extension. It saves time by blocking ads that slow your browser and disrupt your work. By adding the wide array of filters available, it performs functions like cleaning up Facebook’s interface, hiding twitter image previews, blocking site tracking cookies, blocking sites containing malware, blocking all flash and getting around paywalls.
X-Notifier
Available for Firefox and Chrome, X-notifier monitors your email and notifies you when you have a message. Hover over the number to see which accounts have new mail. It can also open your email automatically when mail arrives. Available scripts give even further functionality.
ReminderFox
One of the most useful Firefox tools for keeping you on schedule, ReminderFox comes packed with features. You can store reminders and to-dos, using lists, alerts and alarms with no need for a separate calendar app. ToDoIst is a comparable Chrome extension.
LastPass
The average internet user logs into 25 sites per day, and working online, that number can double or triple. Available for Firefox and Chrome, LastPass stores all your passwords and can even create secure passwords. Set it to open a site automatically or to simply store the password for manual retrieval. The basic version is free, but there are premium and Enterprise versions. You can get unlimited usage of the mobile version for a nominal yearly fee.
Multiple Tab Handler
Anyone who works online has times when they have more tabs open than their screen can handle. Multiple Tab Handler for Firefox allows you to pin your most important tabs on the left so you don’t lose them in the shuffle. Other useful features selecting multiple tabs which can then be manipulated in any number of ways, such as closing, reloading, or bookmarking. You can copy the URLs of tabs to the clipboard, save the tab to your disk drive or print them. One of the most useful features is closing all tabs to either the right or the left and closing similar tabs. To shut down your browser for a clean start, you simply close all tabs. Chrome includes its own tab handler that includes many of the functions of this add-on.
Add-ons help you increase productivity in many simple ways that add minutes or even hours to your workday. They keep you focused, streamline your work process and make your surfing faster and more efficient. These are only a preview of the dozens of productivity boosters available for whichever browser you choose. Since some of the best productivity add-ons are only available on one browser, using multiple browsers for different tasks may be another way to streamline your work flow.