5 Apps I Couldn't Live Without as a Polymath
I use these almost daily to support my education and self-development as a polymath
Being a polymath in today’s world means juggling multiple disciplines, engaging in self-directed learning, and constantly striving for self-growth. As a polymath and lifelong learner, I rely on several apps to help me stay organised, expand my knowledge, and optimise my daily routines. These are the five apps that I simply could not imagine my life without. Plus, I’ll share a bonus app at the end that’s also a game-changer for anyone pursuing multiple projects and committments!
Notion
Category: Knowledge Management and Productivity
This one is probably no surprise! Notion is my all-in-one tool for managing my business, PhD research, and personal life. I use it as a digital wiki, a project management tool, and a second brain where I store everything from my reading notes to strategic plans.
The true power of Notion lies in its ability to link databases and pages together, creating an interconnected web of knowledge. For example, I maintain a library database where I track books I've read and my notes on them, and I can link individual books to research projects or content ideas. The automation and workflow capabilities take a little time to master, but once you do, they make task management seamless.
While tools like Asana and Trello are great for project management, they don’t offer the same level of flexibility. For me, Notion is irreplaceable, and if I had to choose just one app to use for the rest of my life, this would be it.
Why It’s Indispensable:
Notion is a dynamic workspace that blends note-taking, task management, databases, and knowledge repositories into one cohesive platform. Its modularity is unmatched, making it ideal for polymaths who need to manage diverse projects and track their learning across multiple disciplines.
How It Promotes Growth:
Self-Directed Learning: Use Notion to create custom templates for your learning goals. For instance, you can design a “Polymath Dashboard” to track books, courses, or skills across categories like science, philosophy, or creative arts.
Deep Reflection: Journaling and tracking progress is seamless, helping you understand patterns in your growth. You can even embed habit trackers to reinforce daily behaviours.
Organisational Mastery: For polymaths balancing numerous interests, Notion’s database system lets you prioritise tasks, organise research, and connect ideas. The ability to interlink pages fosters a networked approach to learning, reflecting the interdisciplinary mindset of polymathy.
Brilliant
Category: Interactive Learning Platform
Brilliant has been a fantastic tool for keeping my learning journey active, especially in STEM subjects. After submitting my PhD thesis, I realized I had neglected areas like mathematics and wanted to sharpen my skills again.
Brilliant offers interactive, bite-sized exercises that make complex topics approachable and engaging. I try to complete at least one exercise per day, though sometimes I get so immersed that I spend half an hour working through different topics. The platform aligns with my belief that small, consistent steps are more valuable than occasional deep dives.
Why It’s Indispensable:
Brilliant offers interactive, problem-solving-based courses on STEM topics, logic, and critical thinking. Its gamified approach transforms abstract concepts into engaging, hands-on learning experiences.
How It Promotes Growth:
Strengthening Critical Thinking: The platform's focus on problem-solving enhances logical reasoning and cognitive flexibility—key traits for polymaths.
Self-Directed Learning: Brilliant adapts to your pace, allowing you to dive deep into subjects like calculus, computer science, or probability when inspiration strikes.
Confidence in Complexity: For those tackling multidisciplinary projects, Brilliant helps demystify complex systems and concepts, which can be applied to broader contexts such as systems thinking or data analysis.
MasterClass
Category: Personal and Professional Development
I started using MasterClass while living in India for my PhD fieldwork. Unlike traditional streaming services, which I don’t subscribe to, MasterClass feels like an investment in my growth. The platform features world-class experts teaching a wide range of subjects, from creative writing to entrepreneurship.
What I love about MasterClass is its low-stakes learning environment—you can binge-watch classes like a TV show or listen to them like a podcast. Each course also comes with a PDF workbook, making it easy to take notes and revisit key insights.
One of my favourite courses was on game design. I found it so fascinating that I binge-watched it twice, taking tons of notes along the way. I also love the acting courses, as they’ve helped enhance my performance skills through insights from renowned actors.
Why It’s Indispensable:
MasterClass provides access to courses taught by world-renowned experts, from scientists to artists to business leaders. It’s a treasure trove of interdisciplinary knowledge and inspiration.
How It Promotes Growth:
Diverse Perspectives: By learning directly from experts like Neil deGrasse Tyson (science communication) or Annie Leibovitz (photography), you gain unique insights into fields beyond your expertise.
Inspiration for Creation: Polymaths thrive on connecting ideas across disciplines. MasterClass delivers a wealth of knowledge that can spark new ideas, projects, or collaborations.
Soft Skills Development: Courses on leadership, negotiation, and creativity enrich the personal and professional skills necessary for polymathic success.
Speechify
Category: Audio Learning and Accessibility
Speechify is a text-to-speech app that I’ve used extensively since the start of my PhD. It allows me to listen to articles, PDFs, and documents at high speeds, making it easier to absorb information while multitasking.
The app offers a variety of AI-generated voices, including fun options like Snoop Dogg. While some voices are more natural than others, I generally listen at 2x speed, so I don’t mind the more robotic tone.
One of the biggest benefits of Speechify is its ability to help with proofreading. When finalising my PhD thesis, I listened to it being read aloud and caught so many grammatical mistakes that I hadn’t noticed while reading it visually. It’s an invaluable tool for both academic and personal learning.
Why It’s Indispensable:
Speechify converts text into audio, enabling you to listen to books, articles, or notes while multitasking. This is a game-changer for polymaths managing time and input across a variety of media.
How It Promotes Growth:
Efficient Learning: Listening to academic papers or articles while commuting or exercising maximises your time. This app also allows you to cover more material in less time.
Cognitive Flexibility: By switching between visual and auditory learning modalities, you engage different parts of your brain, improving memory retention and comprehension.
Accessibility: Speechify ensures no knowledge is out of reach, accommodating busy schedules or even fatigue that makes reading difficult.
Superhuman Activations
Category: Mental Wellness and Cognitive Training
Superhuman Activations is an alternative to traditional guided meditations. While meditation focuses on mindfulness and self-awareness, activations are designed to enhance visualization, energy alignment, and mental focus.
I first discovered these through Joe Dispenza’s meditations, particularly one from Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself that I found incredibly powerful. Activations help me get into a flow state and set intentions with clarity, making them an essential part of my daily routine.
Why It’s Indispensable:
Superhuman Activations offers guided visualisations and meditative practices designed to unlock peak mental states, boost creativity, and build mental resilience. It’s ideal for polymaths who need to maintain focus and inspiration.
How It Promotes Growth:
Enhanced Mental Clarity: Polymathic pursuits require juggling competing priorities. Guided activations reduce mental clutter and enhance cognitive sharpness.
Flow State Induction: The app’s exercises can help you access flow states, which are crucial for deep work, creativity, and interdisciplinary breakthroughs.
Resilience and Energy Management: Superhuman Activations ensures you stay grounded and energised, essential for maintaining long-term intellectual and creative pursuits.
BONUS: Reclaim.ai
Category: Smart Scheduling and Time Optimisation
Reclaim.ai is a smart scheduling tool that helps me automate and optimize my calendar. As someone who juggles multiple projects, meetings, and deep work sessions, Reclaim.ai ensures that my schedule remains balanced. It automatically blocks time for important tasks, helps me avoid overbooking, and even integrates with my task management tools.
I love how it dynamically adjusts my calendar based on changing priorities, making sure I stay productive while still maintaining flexibility. It’s been a game-changer for managing my time effectively.
Why It’s Indispensable:
Reclaim.ai is an intelligent scheduling tool that automates and optimises your calendar, ensuring you prioritise what truly matters while leaving room for flexibility.
How It Promotes Growth:
Time Blocking for Learning: Automatically schedule time for skill development, self-study, or creative projects around other commitments.
Focus on Priorities: Reclaim ensures key tasks don’t fall through the cracks, allowing polymaths to balance multiple interests effectively.
Work-Life Balance: The app integrates breaks, personal time, and even self-care activities into your calendar, making it easier to maintain holistic growth.
These apps collectively serve as my current toolkit to embrace the polymathic lifestyle. From organising and managing diverse interests (Notion), to deepening intellectual engagement (Brilliant, MasterClass), to leveraging time more efficiently (Speechify), and optimising my mental and emotional states (Superhuman Activations), each app caters to distinct but interconnected facets of my current self-development priorities. Together, they empower me to navigate complexity, cultivate new skills, and thrive as a modern polymath.