The Productivity Show

What’s in Our Menu Bar? Productivity Tools We Use Every Day (TPS560)


Listen Later

How much untapped potential is sitting in your menu bar or system tray right now? For many users, that screen section is cluttered with random icons — or worse, completely overlooked. But for us, it’s a quiet command center filled with powerful tools that make our work faster, our days smoother, and our systems smarter.

In this episode, we’re revealing the exact apps we keep in our menu bars—and why. From quick file automation and smarter calendar previews to advanced keyboard shortcuts and browser rules, you’ll walk away with simple, actionable ideas to level up your setup. When possible, we share Windows alternatives as well. Whether you’re a power user or just getting started, you’ll find a few new tools to try (and maybe even clear out some digital clutter while you’re at it).

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Go to Zocdoc.com/TPS and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor.

Thanks SelectQuote. SelectQuote.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:21]
  • What exactly is a menu bar—and why should you care? [04:01]
  • Bartender or chaos? How we keep our menu bars sane [05:36]
  • A better way to take screenshots [08:26]
  • The shortcut to snapping your windows into place [10:09]
  • The nostalgic system monitor we still love [15:58]
  • The drag-and-drop utility hiding in plain sight [18:39]
  • The calendar feature we can’t live without [23:30]
  • Open links in exactly the browser you want [27:08]
  • The shortcut savior for long-winded replies [29:14]
  • Which icons we keep visible—and what stays hidden [32:14]
  • Quick control for your home office lighting [33:14]
  • The Mac app that can (almost) do everything [35:51]
  • Links:
    • Shopify
    • Zocdoc
    • SelectQuote
    • Setapp
    • Bartender
    • The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
    • Ice
    • CleanShot X
    • ShareX
    • Moom
    • FancyZones – PowerToys
    • iStat Menus
    • Rainmeter
    • Dropzone
    • Fantastical
    • Rainlendar
    • Velja
    • TextExpander
    • PhraseExpress
    • Breevy
    • BetterTouchTool
    • AutoHotKey
    • Elgato Control Center
    • 25X Productivity Coaching
    • Productivity Academy
    • The Productivity Show on Youtube
    • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
    • Become a member of TPS+
    • Take the Productivity Quiz
    • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Productivity ShowBy Asian Efficiency

      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      487 ratings


      More shows like The Productivity Show

      View all
      Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

      Coaching for Leaders

      1,466 Listeners

      Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life by Erik Fisher

      Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

      839 Listeners

      The 5 AM Miracle: Healthy Productivity for High Achievers by Jeff Sanders

      The 5 AM Miracle: Healthy Productivity for High Achievers

      726 Listeners

      Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod by Hal Elrod

      Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod

      1,324 Listeners

      Motivation with Brendon Burchard by Brendon Burchard

      Motivation with Brendon Burchard

      3,628 Listeners

      Getting Things Done by GTD®

      Getting Things Done

      459 Listeners

      Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement by Justin Malik

      Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement

      3,060 Listeners

      Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice by Optimal Living Daily | Diania Merriam

      Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

      1,270 Listeners

      How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

      How to Be Awesome at Your Job

      1,038 Listeners

      Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik by Jim Kwik, Your Brain Coach, Founder www.KwikLearning.com

      Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik

      4,830 Listeners

      Best of Both Worlds Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

      Best of Both Worlds Podcast

      760 Listeners

      Work + Life Harmony | Time Management, Organization and Planning for Overwhelmed Women by Megan Sumrell: Time Management and Productivity Coach

      Work + Life Harmony | Time Management, Organization and Planning for Overwhelmed Women

      207 Listeners

      It's About Time | Time Management & Productivity for Work Life & Balance by Anna Dearmon Kornick

      It's About Time | Time Management & Productivity for Work Life & Balance

      229 Listeners

      Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

      Deep Questions with Cal Newport

      1,301 Listeners

      Best Laid Plans by Sarah Hart-Unger

      Best Laid Plans

      785 Listeners