Life can get overwhelming regardless of what you do on a day to day. Never-ending emails, social media notifications, and to-dos can completely weigh you down and it all seems unmanageable. Especially during this time, most people are now working remotely, and it can become extremely difficult to keep up with everything you need to do along with having the motivation to do it. I was one of those people who kept telling myself, “wow, I really need to get my life together.” Making small changes in your life can help you feel more organized, and in this technological era, there are countless tools to help us get back on track. Here are some apps that I’ve been using for productivity and everyday life.
TRELLO
Trello has easily become one of my top productivity apps this year. From scheduling social media posts for MA to managing my entire life, this is the one app that helps me organize almost all of my projects. This platform is organized using boards, lists, and cards. Every card contains a specific task, and the goal is to move it over to your “Completed” list. It may seem like a lot at first but will become incredibly simple to use as time goes on. There are thousands of ways to use Trello. I’ve used it to collaborate with teams, as a content calendar, and even created a board for planning out my island on Animal Crossing. There really is no limit to how you can use Trello and if you haven’t used it already, try it out!
Other alternatives: Notion, Evernote, and Monday
BITWARDEN
The more accounts I sign myself up for, the easier it is to forget each login information. A few years ago, I was always writing out my passwords on a notepad, but today, I have it all secured with the password manager app, Bitwarden. Having over a hundred different accounts, I’m able to access it all by remembering one master password. The app helps with auto-generating a secure password and logging in to websites is now with just a few clicks. It’s important to keep your accounts secure, because in this day and age, they are constantly under attack. Having strong security is essential, and with this app, it has made my life so much more simpler.
Other alternatives: 1Password, LastPass, and Keeper
REMINDERS
This app is automatically installed on iPhones, but I have found it to be incredibly useful. With Trello limited to their due date features, Reminders comes in to help me with setting alarms and constantly reminding me of urgent tasks. When I enter tasks, I can set it to remind me on a certain date and time, but I can also set it to repeat if it’s a daily, weekly, or monthly task. There is also a priority feature to have it constantly send you notifications so it’s almost impossible for you to forget. I can’t tell you how often it has saved me with certain deadlines and I highly encourage you to utilize this or any similar reminder app!
SLACK
This is one of the best ways to communicate with classmates, co-workers, and teammates. It’s the middle ground between instant messaging and emails where certain topics can be separated and organized in different channels. You are also able to react to messages with emojis and it helps it have that texting feel. With Slack’s integrations, you can sync other apps within it and you no longer have to deal with switching between apps all the time. It’s extremely simple to use and has helped my productivity immensely.
Other alternatives: Discord (more casual) and Skype
I was struggling to find a good workflow and the apps I use almost religiously today took me months to get used to. Everyone handles organization and productivity differently, so these apps could help some, but it may not be for all. If you’re someone who is overwhelmed or struggling with your habits, productivity, and the never-ending to-do list, I encourage you to try out these apps and maybe some of the alternatives to find what works best for you. Take that little step, get your life together, and go make those dreams come true.