If you are anything like me, you are always on the go with your trusty phone nearby. Mobile phones give us the convenience of being able to get things done while on the run with countless apps that keep us connected with finances, scheduling, and even some fun. But, with so many apps available in the App Store, it’s hard to choose between what’s useful and what’s useless. I am going to share my TOP 8 most useful apps that keep me organized
ALL YEAR LONG.
Like many of you, I wear numerous hats of wife, mom, homemaker, and business owner. I have searched for the best apps to help me achieve better and faster results in all those areas of my life and wanted to share them with you.
Enjoy!
LET'S GET STARTED ON STAYING ORGANIZED
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As a business owner, I am constantly looking for easy ways to increase my time management. The best way I have found is to be able to access my business files anytime and anywhere. Check out these apps that are consistently at the TOP of my list year after year to keep my business running more efficiently with easy and secure access to my business documents and finance management that help me stay organized.
Over the years, I have consistently used Dropbox for work and personal content. For work, you can keep your whole team in sync by providing a centralized place to securely store documents, manage data access, and work together on projects. For personal use, you can keep everything important to you and your family, from photos to sensitive documents, shareable and safe.
With Dropbox, you can access all your files on your mobile phone (iOS or Android) and your Windows or Mac computer. I love that I do not need to be constantly at my computer to see all my files and can access and even share them all from my phone. Plus, if you are anything like me with lots and lots of photos, you can use the Photo Backup feature in your account tab (on the mobile app) to store them on DropBox rather than take up space on your computer.
The Dropbox app is free to download with 2 GB of storage. Upgrade to more storage with the paid plans that they offer.
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Another app that I am constantly using to send clients larger files is Google Drive. Store, share and collaborate on files and folders from any mobile device, tablet, or computer. Your content also stays safe and private, which is an absolute must for my business.
For anyone that has large data files that need to be sent or shared, Google Drive is a fantastic app that allows easy access without sucking up your email storage space.
I also love that I can use my app to easily read, modify, and transfer files back and forth between clients without having to take out my whole computer.
You can use the app for FREE for up to 15 GB of storage. Check it out here.
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Since my husband and I both run our own businesses, we wanted to have some software to manage the finances easily. We found QuickBooks which easily works for both of our diverse business types, mine in home organization and his as a software engineer.
The QuickBooks app allows us to instantly access any information on our finances. With the app on my phone, I can create a new customer or even generate a quote/invoice. I love this feature since I am constantly on the go in various locations for clients’ homes. If you are anything like me, then you are constantly trying to keep up with your business whenever you have a spare minute, so having access to the app on my phone to send invoices while waiting at swim practice is a game-changer.
QuickBooks is not a free app, but it is a great investment for any business owner. Be sure to look into the different options to perfectly fit your type of company and the services you want to subscribe to. Check it out here.
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I wanted to include an app that is specific for helping to tackle social media content that is essential for businesses of today. The constant pressures of trying to be present in multiple forms of social media to quickly expand your business can be extremely time-consuming.
Tailwind is a scheduling app that lets you spend less time scheduling with automated publishing. No more manual posting. I like to plan out my social media posts for the whole month and set them to be published in one day instead of everyday. Now, it is so easy to stay organized on all of my social media platforms.
A personalized smart schedule is another feature offered by the app that will pick the times when your audience is the most responsive so you can get the most engagement out of every post. Tailwind also gives you constantly updated data on your social media posts so you know all the newest trends to expand your business.
Another great tool that is included is the hashtag finder that will allow you to reach more customers with the perfect mix of massively popular and hyper-relevant hashtags.
Tailwind offers free and paid plans. Check out which one might be a great fit for you and for your business.
If you are reading this you are probably the CEO of your home with the constant stress and pressure of trying to keep things organized for everyone. No easy task! I am always looking for every possible way I can save time and effort while maintaining an efficient home. Check out my favorite apps that help me with everything from family schedules to a constantly updated grocery list.
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Google calendar is not only a great app for keeping the schedule in my home running smoothly, but I also consistently use it for my business. By far, Google Calendar is the best calendar app I have ever tried to stay organized with my home/work schedule.
You can even use the Google calendar on your desktop computer. Easily invite people to your events with a simple click, add reminders for yourself or family, and put in meetings and events to keep you simply organized.
Plus, you can easily edit anything while on the go with the app. One of my favorite tricks is to use colors to deliniate different events or reminders to instantly give me a way to focus my schedule at a glance.
One of the most useful features for me is that the calendar will recognize specific keywords and automatically add clip art to your event to make it stand out. You can see an example of this in the photo above for the lunch that is scheduled. Not only do you have your schedule easily available, but it is visually appealing for your family and you.
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When we first got an Alexa years ago, I really did not think that we would utilize it for anything more than a cool-looking speaker for music. But now years later, she has become an integral part of our family organization helping with everything from our grocery list to playing thunderstorms at night for my daughter to fall asleep.
Alexa makes your life easier, more meaningful, and more fun by letting your voice-control your home or office. Some of the features that I utilize the most are communicating with devices at home or devices that are shared on the app. I love to drop in on my kids' rooms to instantly communicate with them when I am away from the house through my phone app or even announce dinner throughout the whole house on Alexa devices.
Another great function that I use constantly is the AnyList. I can create lists and set reminders and timers. This was an absolute lifesaver for Thanksgiving when I had multiple items in the ovens that needed to come out at various times. I can instantly label the timer or reminder and the Alexa will announce to me what the specific timer is for.
We utilize the List function of the app mostly in our house for groceries, but the options are really endless. Try it out for anything from books that you have been dying to read or a packing list for an upcoming trip. Anyone can add to the list instantly from their phone or Alexa device and the list will let you know who and when the item was added. This feature is great if you have kids that like to add things to the list like 10 bags of cookies so your well-meaning husband does not actually buy things that you DON'T really need. I make sure to check the Alexa Grocery list every week before I go to the store to make sure I get all the items added throughout the week.
The Alexa app helps me stay organized by allowing me to centralize communications within the home. You can easily manage your Alexa app on your phone or tablet. With the Alexa app, I can turn lights on and off, and I can drop in my home devices if no one is answering their phone. Dropping in means you can make announcements in your home without the need for a phone line. So, let’s say your children do not have a mobile phone, but they have an Echo or Alexa device in their room; you can communicate with them while you are at work or away by simply being connected to Wifi. When I am not home, I can drop in with the Alexa app, and an announcement will sound, and it will even appear on our Amazon Five TVs and phones so they can't miss your message. My in-laws love to leave little messages on my kids' devices and they can even call them after school.
Amazon Alexas now come in all shapes and sizes. Be sure to check out the newest models with loads of features from connecting to your smart home devices, entertainment, and even fill you in on the latest news. Below are some of my favorites that we either have in our home or are dying to try soon!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. My full disclosure statement is available here.
The above apps are great to keep you organized, but what about your mental well-being? I have found that I can be my most productive and HAPPY self when I set aside some time for self-care with some great apps for relaxation. These two apps are consistently used by myself and recommended to clients to help give you that daily balance you have been craving.
Image Courtesy of Life360.com
Life360 is a location-sharing app that coordinates with family and friends. You can easily get automatic notifications when your family comes and goes from home, work, and school, and even when they complete drives. Get the peace of mind that you need when family or friends are traveling. Plus, it is great for new drivers and older parents. You can track their travels and be alerted with any help alerts or accidents.
There is a reason that this app is #1 for family safety with thousands of positive reviews. Available for FREE and with paid plans. Be sure to check out their site for numerous plan options with upgrades to monitor everything from location, driving, and digital safety and emergency assistance.
Image Courtesy of Calm.com
Everyone has had a stressful day recently and now there is something that you can do about it. I was searching for something to help relieve my stress and found the Calm app. I love that the main goal is to help you improve your health and happiness. What else could you want? I love that the app is geared at personalizing its recommendations to what you are hoping to achieve, whether it be improving your sleep quality, reducing stress or anxiety, or even improving your focus.
I personally love to use the app for myself and have even found it helpful with my children to utilize the sleep stories to relax them after a particularly rambunctious day.
Another feature to check out that I utilize in the office is the soundscapes. I find that I am able to focus in on my work much faster on the days that I use this. Be sure to try out the white noise and nature sounds to relax your mind to focus at the office or lull yourself to sleep after a hectic day.
I hope you enjoyed This Organized Home’s: The Best Apps to Stay Organized This Year. I hope that these recommendations help to keep you organized at home and with work. Have an app that works great for you… be sure to leave it in the comments below. I am always looking for the best ones to try and share with everyone.
Can't wait to catch up on the next blog... Stay Organized.
