If you need help staying focused, try...
Forest
This app - available as a mobile app and Chrome browser extension - helps you increase your focus time by minimizing distractions on your device.
Who should use this? People who have a hard time staying focused and managing their time.
How does it work? Set a time that you want to stay focused, from 10 to 120 minutes. During the time that you want to be focused, a virtual tree is growing. While your tree is growing, phrases will be displayed such as “Don’t look at me” or “Leave me alone.” Don't leave the app until the time is up, or the tree will die. The more successful focus sessions you have, the more lush your forest will be. If you earn 2,500 "coins," you can plant a real tree. You can also earn productivity badges.
What does it cost? Free for Android and $1.99 for the Apple iPhone/iPad's iOS. (There is also a free Chrome Extension.)
Block & Focus
This free browser extension lets you either block specific websites or allow only certain websites.
Who should use this? Anybody who gets distracted while working online. This is especially helpful if you are taking classes online
How does it work? Block & Focus is an extension for Google Chrome. It is very easy to use, and you can customize everything: whether to block websites or restrict access to specific websites, add a timer, remind yourself to take breaks, and more.
What does it cost? It's free.
How can I get it? Go to the Chrome Web Store to add Block & Focus to your browser.
Prod
This to-do list app for Google Chrome will block all websites until you've completed the items on your list.
Who should use this? Anybody who gets distracted while working online, though it's especially useful for students who use Chromebooks.
How does it work? Activate the Chrome Extension by clicking the P icon, then click the Options button to enter a list of websites to block. Create a to-do list by following simple instructions. The websites that you've entered will not open until you've marked all of your tasks as done.
What does it cost? Free
How can I get it? Prod is a free browser extension available on the Chrome Web Store.
NaturalReader
This text-to-speech reader is easy to use. A basic free version reads text in most file formats and has a "floating bar" that reads text on webpages; premium versions let you create audio files from text, type with word prediction, and more. The Chrome browser extension includes a Reader view that strips out distracting ads and displays text in a larger, cleaner type. It's available on the Web and as Windows and Mac downloads.
Who should use this? Students who have reading challenges (like dyslexia), who speak English as a second language, who learn best by listening, and who need help focusing on what they are reading.
How does it work? Go to the NaturalReader Online webpage, or launch the desktop software, then copy in text or upload a file; the Play button and other controls are at the top of the screen. Go to the NaturalReader website. and scroll down the page to watch how-to videos. There is also a browser extension for Google Chrome.
What does it cost? The basic versions are free. NaturalReader for Windows and the Mac has premium versions that start at $99.50 (a one-time cost); NaturalReader Online's premium accounts start at $10 per month.
How can I get it? Go to NaturalReader Online to use the Web version, or download Windows or Mac software from the NaturalReader website.