Apps to Stay Organized and Productive

Sometimes I feel like I have a dozen different apps that I use at one time. But the fact is, they are all useful in different ways, and I love them all! Today I thought I would share some of my favorites, and how I use them.

File Management: Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive

This is probably the one area of weakness in my tech chain. I’m a digital packrat, so I have files all over the place. But they all live in the cloud, except for really old files which are on external hard drives. I find the cloud is best for me for a number of reasons. I work from multiple computers (one at home, one at the office and one for travel), and all my files sync across all my computers. Not only that, but I can also access files from anywhere on my phone or tablet, or even another computer. And, if one of my computers crashes, I don’t have to worry about losing anything important. Could I consolidate all my files into one place? Probably. Will I? Probably not. 😊 These services are all free but have paid versions for additional storage.

Notes: Evernote

I can’t live without Evernote; it’s the ultimate digital filing cabinet. I save client notes, recipes, receipts, sermon notes, travel plans, packing lists, business cards, ideas, photos, the list goes on and on! I love being able to search recipes I’ve saved, and my digital notebook is shared with my husband too so that whichever of us gets home from work first can start dinner. It’s also easy to search client notes, and it integrates with every other app to easily save information. There’s even a browser plugin to save web pages, PDFs, emails, or screenshots. Evernote is accessible via the web, a desktop app, or a mobile app, so your notes can be with you everywhere. And I can store and search my handwritten notes from my Rocketbook in Evernote too! There is a free version of Evernote, but additional features come with the paid options.

Handwritten Notes: Rocketbook

The Rocketbook is a reusable notebook that allows you to scan hand-written notes and automatically send them to Evernote, Google Drive, email, etc. Then you spritz a little water on the page and erase it. I’ve never been a fan of “writing” on a screen like an iPad or phone, so this combines writing with pen and paper but easily saving and syncing your notes across multiple platforms and devices. I got my first Rocketbook in October 2019 and I’ve been addicted ever since. I have three different sizes, and I use them all daily. There is a bit of an investment to get started with Rocketbooks ($32-$37) but because they are reusable they will save money in the long run – plus they are better for the environment! There is also a version called the Fusion which has a calendar, task list, goal planner, and both dot grid and lined pages.

Social Media Scheduling: Planoly

Scheduling social media posts makes it less overwhelming to deal with! An app like Planoly makes it even easier. Once a week, I set aside a block of time to load my posts for the week. There are similar apps out there, but I found Planoly to be the easiest. I can store hashtags I use frequently, tag others that need to be credited in the photo, and chose a time for the photo to post. The best part is the grid view, which shows your most recent posts along with upcoming scheduled posts. This makes it easier to maintain consistency in the look of your feed, but also to be sure you are posting a variety of different topics. The basic version is free, but paid plans include options for posting to Facebook and Pinterest in addition to Instagram.

Tasks: ToDoist

There are so many ways to keep track of tasks. Written lists, project management apps, even in Evernote. But my brain works best with a good old-fashioned checklist. Some features I love about ToDoist are project sorting, multiple view formats, and recurring tasks. For example, I have some tasks that I do every week, every month, or every quarter. I set up the task once and then ToDoist reminds me when it’s time to complete it. There is also an extension for Gmail, which means I can create and view tasks right in my inbox. I pay $36 per year for the premium version, but there is a free version too.

Password Manager: LastPass

Keeping track of passwords can be exhausting. This site requires 8 characters, that one requires 6, some require punctuation or capital letters… and having one password for everything is a big no-no. Enter LastPass. Set a master password, and then LastPass will remember all the rest of them for you. You can even create new passwords using their random generator, making your passwords extra safe. With the browser plugin, LastPass can automatically fill in your passwords for you. And there is an app for your phone to take passwords with you. There is a free version, and the premium version is $36 per year.