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Productivity guides, free tools and comparisons

Everything you need to plan your days, stay focused and build habits: free tools and printable templates, proven methods, an overview of what CORTEX can do, and honest comparisons with other apps. CORTEX is free for everyone.

CORTEX features

What CORTEX does and how to use each tool.

Gamified productivity app XP, levels and real rewards for finished tasks – a to-do app that feels like a game.
Free to-do list app Type a task in one sentence – date, time, priority and duration are parsed for you.
Day planner & time blocking app One click turns your task list into a realistic time-blocked day.
Free habit tracker app Track good habits and bad ones, yes/no or with a daily target.
Free time tracking app Run several timers at once, see hours per project and export to CSV or PDF.
Goal tracker app Long-term goals with progress from real tasks – shareable with a partner.
Vision board app A vision board that lives next to your goals and daily tasks.
Life RPG & RPG habit tracker Level up in real life: attributes, ranks, achievements and a loot shop.
ADHD planner app Capture thoughts in seconds, auto-plan your day and get instant rewards.
Commitment contract Sign a 30-day contract with yourself and turn it into daily actions.

For freelancers

Time, rates and a daily system for people who work for themselves.

App for freelancers Tasks, timers, goals and a daily plan for people who are their own boss.
Freelance hourly rate calculator Calculate the hourly rate you need – with a free online calculator.

Productivity guides

Proven methods for planning, focus, habits and getting things done.

How to gamify your life Turn daily tasks into quests: the mechanics that work and the traps to avoid.
Gamification examples Real-life gamification examples from apps, work, education and everyday life.
The Pomodoro Technique How to use 25-minute focus blocks, variations and common mistakes.
How to stop procrastinating Why we procrastinate and practical steps that get you moving today.
How to build habits that stick How long it really takes to form a habit and how to keep it going.
Time blocking How to time block your day, with templates and the mistakes to avoid.
Eisenhower Matrix Sort tasks by urgent vs. important – with examples and a free template.
Deep work How to do focused, high-value work in a world of notifications.
Getting Things Done (GTD) David Allen's GTD method explained step by step – and how to run it in an app.
SMART goals How to write SMART goals with examples, and turn them into weekly actions.
How to focus How to focus on work, study and reading when everything distracts you.
Self-discipline What self-discipline really is, why it is not willpower, and how to train it.
Morning routine Build a morning routine that survives busy days – three templates.
Evening routine Switch off, prepare tomorrow and sleep better with a simple evening routine.
Does the Pomodoro Technique work? What the studies on Pomodoro breaks actually found, and when longer blocks fit better.
Dopamine menu Build a menu of quick, healthy pick-me-ups so you stop defaulting to scrolling.
Real-life side quests 120 side quest ideas by cost, time and solo or social, plus a random quest generator.
How to gamify studying An XP table for study tasks, exams as boss fights and rewards that don't backfire.
Weekly review A 20-minute weekly review with 15 questions and a free printable template.

Free tools & templates

Online timers, calculators and printable templates. Free, no sign-up.

Free online Pomodoro timer A free focus timer in your browser: 25/5 Pomodoro, custom lengths, no sign-up.
Free printable habit tracker Monthly habit tracker template to print (A4/Letter), free and no sign-up.
Free printable weekly & daily planner Printable weekly and daily planner templates with a simple planning method.
Free to-do list template How to write a to-do list you actually finish – plus a printable template.

Comparisons & alternatives

Honest comparisons with other productivity, habit and time tracking apps.

Best gamified productivity apps The best gamified to-do, habit and productivity apps compared honestly.
Habitica alternatives Apps like Habitica compared – and when Habitica is still the better choice.
Todoist alternatives Free Todoist alternatives compared, including gamified options.
Notion alternatives Notion alternatives for personal productivity: ready-made system vs. building kit.
Toggl & Clockify alternatives Free time tracker alternatives to Toggl Track and Clockify for freelancers.

Stop reading, start playing

Tasks, a one-click day plan, time tracking, habits and rewards in one system. Free for everyone, on desktop and mobile.

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