Grabbin’ Apps: Let’s Get Organized
If you’re anything like me, your phone is your lifeline. It’s your notebook, calendar, entertainment system, camera and of course, that thing you use to, you know, make “calls.” With the bounty of apps out there, it’s easy to transform your iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Galaxy into the ultimate one-stop life resource – a pocket-sized electronic genie! But let your hoarder-tendencies take over and your home screen becomes little more than a repository for gimmicky games and never-opened utilities. And girl, I know you don’t have time for that. So every month let me be your smart phone spirit guide and I’ll walk you through the must-have Apps for everything from cooking and exercising to astrology. I’ll even help you keep your dashboard and apps organized – want not, waste not!
Since January is all about reinvention and resolutions for the new year, this month’s apps are key for keeping you organized and productive – two dreadful but necessary words.
Here, in no particular order are my top five downloads to keep your calendar, budget and notes in order.
Honestly, I hate budgeting. I just want to live free and untethered by the constraints of my financial restrictions! But unless some sort of windfall changes my current situation I have to make every dollar count. Mint.com is a super simple, stress-free way to keep track of how much you have, how much you spend and where your money goes every month. It syncs with your bank accounts and credit cards to let you know how much you have left over for food, entertainment and even clothes so that come rent day your books are balanced.
2. Evernote – Free but premium is $4.99
I keep so many notes on my phone – names of songs I like, addresses, product names, crushes, work ideas – really anything that pops into my head that I think I’ll want to recall down the road. Evernote lets you do all that with a clean and compact app. If you spring for the premium, you can also share those notes with other Evernote users, letting you collaborate easily on projects or share ideas quickly.
I love lists and I especially love to-do lists. I don’t always get everything or anything done on those lists but making them is so cathartic. Clear lets you make lists, colour-code them and toggle through them easily. From grocery shopping to errands and work tasks, it lets you keep a simple tally of what’s important in your day-to-day. Plus the interface is so minimal – the list doesn’t get lost in a design jumble.
4. Cozi – Free
Cozi is the modern mom’s must-have. This thing keeps school schedules, extracurricular activities, holidays, meals and chores in order. You can sync it between devices and access it from anywhere. It’s like having a personal assistant inside your phone!
Okay, I know this one sounds obvious and boring but if you’re not using cloud storage, you need to start! The latest version for iPhone has an even better design and lets you upload and browse your photos and videos in a simple and easy-to-use way. For anyone who works on the road or works from home, Dropbox lets you manage your files in a way that’s not overwhelming and because it’s synced with your computer, you got backups for your backups.
Finally, and I can’t stress this enough – make folders for your apps. I keep all of the above on my main home screen in a tab labeled “Getting Stuff Done” – but of course you can call yours whatever you like. As long as you’re keeping your organizers, organized!
So what apps help you keep your schedule sane? Let me know!
Image via Shutterstock
