A little widget goes a long way

For all the talk about big apps and AI assistants, sometimes it is the smallest tools that save your day.

Widgets, those little windows on your Android home screen, can do more for productivity than many full-featured apps. They give you instant access, quick reminders, and the satisfaction of checking things off without diving into menus.

If your phone's home screen feels like wasted space, it might be time to put it to work. Here are five of the best widgets to help you stay focused and organised — and yes, all these widgets are available both on Android and iOS app stores.

Google Keep

When it comes to note-taking, Google Keep is the steady companion most Android users already have but may not fully use. The Keep widget is the perfect balance of function and simplicity.

Its "Note collection" widget lets you scroll through your notes right on the home screen. You can view all notes, pinned notes, or only those with a specific label. Each note shows its first few lines, so you can spot what you need at a glance. One tap opens it in full.

The toolbar built into the widget is another small masterpiece. You can start a new note, make a checklist, dictate by voice, scribble a handwritten memo, or capture a photo straight into your notes. For quick ideas, the smaller "Quick capture" widget gives you those shortcuts without the clutter of existing notes.

You can even pin a single note — say, a grocery list or daily affirmation — directly to your home screen. It is free, simple, and practical.

ColorNote

Not every note needs to live in the cloud. Sometimes, you just need a virtual Post-it on your phone. ColorNote understands that perfectly.

Add a ColorNote widget to your home screen, type what you need to remember, and it stays there like a bright sticky note. You can change its colour — yellow for reminders, pink for birthdays, blue for quotes you like. The effect is almost tactile; it feels like you have pasted a small note to your phone itself.

There is also a cloud backup option, which is nice, but that is not the point. The charm lies in its simplicity. A quick glance at your phone and you remember what you were supposed to do. Sometimes, that is all the productivity boost you need.

Todoist

For those who live by to-do lists, Todoist is the gold standard. Its widget makes managing tasks feel effortless.

You can create multiple Todoist widgets, each tied to a different view — your inbox, today's tasks, upcoming tasks, or specific projects. You can even customise how each one looks, choosing themes and allowing colours to adapt to your wallpaper.

The best part is that you can check off tasks right from your home screen without opening the app. You can also add new ones on the fly, using quick options for due dates and priorities.

Todoist's base version is free, while the Pro plan adds features for about £38 a year. For serious planners, it is well worth the price.

Feedly

The Google Discover feed often feels like it is guessing what you want to read. Feedly, on the other hand, lets you choose.

It pulls articles from any sites you pick, creating your own personalised news feed. Add its widget to your home screen, and you can see the latest updates at a glance — whether it is tech news, design blogs, or politics.

You can use Feedly to replace your Discover page entirely. It lets you follow what truly interests you and ignore the rest. For people who rely on staying updated without wasting time scrolling, it is a quiet revolution.

Google Calendar

If you have ever missed a birthday, meeting, or holiday because you forgot to open your calendar app, this one is for you.

Google Calendar offers two elegant widgets — one shows a full month, and the other focuses on the coming days. Both bring clarity to your schedule without any effort. I prefer the monthly view, as it lets me see all events and tasks at once.

With this on your home screen, there is no need for a paper calendar pinned to your wall. You will always know what is coming next, and that small awareness can make a big difference to how your day unfolds.