5 Tiny Tools That Make a Huge Difference (I Use Them Daily)
If you’ve ever thought, “There must be a better way to do this,” — you’re right. Often, it's not about hiring a team or buying complex software. It's about finding tiny tools that quietly do the heavy lifting.
Here are 5 small, low-cost tools I use every day that have a huge impact on productivity, clarity, and consistency.
1. CleanShot X — Best Screenshot Tool (Mac)
More than screenshots. I use it to annotate, blur sensitive info, and record quick screen videos with audio. It saves hours in back-and-forth messages.
Time saved: ~30 min/day
2. Typedesk — Canned Response System
Creates shortcuts for repeat replies. Emails, DMs, proposals — done in seconds. I use /followup and /proposal daily to respond faster with consistency.
Time saved: ~15 min/day
3. Notion Web Clipper
I use this to save articles, ideas, and research into Notion with one click. Paired with a “Read Later” board, it keeps my browser clean and brain organized.
Time saved: ~20 min/day (and less context switching)
4. Cron Calendar
A minimal, beautiful calendar (now part of Notion) that makes time-blocking frictionless. Drag-and-drop, command palette, keyboard nav — all super fast.
Time saved: ~10 min/day planning + better focus
5. Raycast — Mac Spotlight on Steroids
Quickly launch apps, run scripts, convert units, check weather, or do math — all from a shortcut. My hands barely leave the keyboard.
Time saved: Hard to quantify — but feels like magic.
Total time saved: 1–2 hours per day. These tools are so embedded in my workflow that I notice instantly when one breaks or lags.