Please welcome my guest today, Jane Johnson, a writer from Going Cellular.
Technology that keeps track of your life—so you can enjoy it!
In the midst of a busy life it’s difficult to stay organized. Regardless of if you’ve got a busy social life, a ton of work obligations, a myriad of family responsibilities…or all of the above…staying organized is about the only way to remain stress free and healthy. When pace of life turns up the stress-odometer, you need to be organized in order to keep on top of everything and not totally burn out.
The good news is that there are a ton of smart phone apps—for your iPhone, Android, and even your Samsung Galaxy S to help keep your busy life organized, and I’ve listed them here in one convenient place. Because, let’s face it, there’s no need to add more stress to your life right?
1. Bento ($4.99 – for iPhone)
You’re familiar with those cute little traditional Japanese bento boxes that you get when you go out for a sushi lunch right? They organize your soup, salad, and sushi rolls in those convenient, little compartments in one container so the foods don’t get confused. Well, the Bento app keeps all the daily duties compartmentalized in the same manner—so they don’t get confused. This app can help you manage all of your most important work and personal stuff—from paying bills, to signing contacts, to managing work projects, to attending social events. You’ll never forget a responsibility—big or small—ever again, thanks to Bento’s pre-loaded database structure, which you can customize to your day, your week, your month, your year, and your life!
2. Organizing Junkie ($1.99 – for iPhone)
From this very own blog, orgjunkie.com, comes all the professional tips and tricks from busy mom of three and Professional Organizer, Laura Wittmann. The Organizing Junkie app features tips and tricks for organizing your life to its fullest. Sharing professional organizing techniques from Laura’s book, Clutter Rehab as well as her website, this app will help you simplify and organize your daily task list without adding more stress to your life. Each day, the Organizing Junkie app takes three tasks from your master task list and adds them to your daily top three task section. The aim is to help you prioritize tasks by narrowing your focus on just 3 tasks at a time—so you don’t get overwhelmed. As you complete your daily tasks, you can check them off. Once all to-dos are completed, you’ll get a roaring round of fireworks to celebrate your accomplishments.
3. Mint Personal Finance (Free – for iPhone)
Mint is a very popular personal finance app that takes its cue from the larger website. This app features all of the bells and whistles of Mint.com to help your take control and manage your personal finances—in the palm of your hand. So you can consult your budget, bank account transactions, track expenses and pay bills from absolutely anywhere.
4. Pageonce (Free – for Android)
The Pageonce app allows users to manage multiple accounts (and not only the financial kind) from its convenient one-stop interface. There’s no more logging into one account then bringing up another to compare. And, as mentioned, Pageonce lets you manage more than just bank accounts. You can add as many eBay, Netflix, grocery store, frequent flyer, and social networking accounts to the mix as you like—this app can handle the heat! Plus, Pageonce will protect all of your secure information and passwords thanks to its 256 bit data encryption and 128 bit encrypted SSL.
5. Seize The Day (Free – for iPhone)
The name of this app really says it all! Seize The Day is an easy-to-operate task manager that keeps users organized and on top of all daily duties. Plus, it’s got an audio reminder feature that I find extremely useful when I’m still at work and have 10 minutes to pick up my son at school. With Seize The Day you can simply organize your responsibilities, add personal notes (such as addresses or special instructions), and set individual reminders to keep you on top of all your to-dos.
6. Voice Control (Free – for Android)
Smart phones are the ideal tool for multitasking. However, Voice Control makes it that much easier! This app let’s you use voice control features to look up phone contacts and dial them hands free—instead of the dangerous alternative, which is scrolling through your phone to find a contact while driving and having an accident or risking a ticket. The beauty of Voice Control also lets you search for driving directions while at the wheel, so you’ll also be able to access the information you need in a hurry when you’re hands are occupied—eating, drinking coffee, getting ready for work, or driving to a location.
7. Last Pass (Free – for iPhone and Android)
Thank goodness for apps like Last Pass! Before it I had no way of keeping track of all of my passwords—and good luck remembering those passwords I only use once in a while. The Last Pass app will keep all of The Last Pass app will not only help you create unique and hard-to-crack passwords for your banking, social networking, email, and online shopping accounts; and keeps all those unique passwords organized so you don’t have trouble remembering them when you need them.
Jane Johnson is a writer for GoingCellular, a popular site that provides cell phone related news and commentary plus reviews on popular providers like T-Mobile.
Misty says
My husband and I both use the Mint app and like how easy it is to set up. I have the organizing junkie app but haven’t been organized enough yet to use it!
Stacey says
Another great one is the Out of Milk app for Android. I am able to quickly track what I need to buy at the store and even set up shopping lists by various stores. I love it!
Kathy Robinson says
LastPass is available on Androids as well. Also Remember The Milk is out on iPhone and Android as well as on the web.
Laura says
Thanks Kathy, I’ve updated the post to reflect that about LastPass. Appreciate it!
Donna says
My favorite is Cozi. Its a calendar sharing app. With shopping lists, To Do Lists. It keeps everyone on the Same page. I love it!
Kathy Robinson says
I use an Android app called Our Groceries for shopping lists. It is also available on the web. Multiple family members can access the lists tied to your account, in real time. So if you ask the hubby to stop at the store on the way home, he can use the app on his smartphone to get everything you need without you having to email/text/recite the list to him. 🙂
Dannette says
This is a great post. I just got an iPhone specifically to keep me a little more organized. 🙂 Just downloaded mint!
Tara says
I use both Mint and Last Pass. They are great!
I’m excited to share that AboutOne.com has an app coming in the next month or so that will allow our customers to organize their busy families from their phone in addition to the computer. We’re really looking forward to its launch!
Heather says
So our family has a bunch of health stuff going on. I’d like to keep track of it electronically, but I’m not wanting to do spread sheets on each person. Is there an app or website that can help me keep track of all this.
Laura says
Hi Tara, I found this one for you. I haven’t tried it myself but it does have some good reviews:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-medical/id347860026?mt=8
Pedar H. says
This is a great list! Thank you. I also use kidpix for iphone/ipad to organize all my kid’s artwork. It lets me snap a pic of the art, frame it beautifully like it is in a fine art gallery and then save/organize and socially share it. http://bit.ly/UEsxqh