3 Essential Phone Apps for Getting Organized

You know the saying: Work smarter, not harder. Life moves fast these days and our brains can only hold so much. We need tools that can help us remember and make sense of all the things so that we're not (as much of) a frazzled mess at all times! Today I'm sharing my absolute 3 favorite apps that are simple, easy to use, and essential for getting organized.​ They may be on your phone, but they'll help keep your family and home organized IRL too. ​

Calendars App by Readdle

How would I survive without my calendars app?! This is my #1 tool that I use to stay organized. Sorry if you're not an iPhone user, but I just had to share it! There are plenty of calendar apps out there, but this is the one I've fallen in love with!

I used to be a paper planner gal, but I hated when I forgot my planner at home and felt like my brain had stayed behind too. What I love about this calendar app is the layout. It's laid out like a paper planner, so when I look at my week, I can clearly see each day and read the description for each task (see an example in the photo below)!

I can sync the app to my google calendars iCloud calendars so that I can see things like my organizing team's availability and client sessions that they update. I color code each calendar so I can see with a glance what calendar is for work, home, or family (a calendar I share with my husband). I can set recurring events like running payroll each week and birthdays each year.

I also have a calendar I've labeled "I'm not there but important to note" that has been super helpful. I use this to remember items happening that aren't events taking up my time, such as birthdays to remember, things happening at my children's school, or when our lawn is being treated.
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I can also tap calendars on and off, which is a really helpful feature for calendars like our organizer availability that I don't need to reference all the time.

Calendar key for photo below=
Purple: Work
Blue: Home (non-work)
Green: I'm not there but important to note
Orange: NH organizing team events
Pink: NC organizing team events
Yellow: Family/my husband is involved

Learn more about the Calendars app here.

Reminders App

The next two apps are for iOS as well (since I have an iPhone), and come pre-downloaded on iPhones. But other phones like Android have their own versions that are basically the same idea! You can use the same concepts I discuss on whatever version your phones come with.

I set reminders multiple times per day. It's like my external brain. I set reminders so often that my 4-year old while playing will say things like "Siri, remind me to order more bread tonight at 8PM". 🤣

I often use the voice command to set reminders from my Apple watch or while I'm driving and it's not safe to use my phone. With kids, I also try not to be on my phone too much but there are always plenty of things I need to remember to do.

I'll set reminders for 7 a.m. for things I need to bring to school for my kids that day. I set yearly reminders for things like making doctor's physicals appointments and local events we might want to buy tickets for. I set reminders for routine household maintenance, like changing the air filters every 3 months, winterizing the hose bibs once a year, and changing the fridge water filter every 6 months. I make a reminder for pretty much anything I can think of needing to remember! 
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You can put as much or as little information in there as well. One example is that I put a yearly reminder to buy Halloween candy and I put how much I bought last year, for what price, and if that was too much or too little. It was very helpful this year to know I bought two large and two small bags last year and we had too much left over. I didn't need to store that info in my brain for an entire year, or totally forget how much we bought and buy too much again this year.
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If I make a reminder that pops up and I don't have time to do it yet, I just move it out a few days or weeks. If it's not pertinent anymore, I happily delete it.

​You can learn more about the Reminders app here.

Notes App

The Notes app is a staple for me as well. I primarily use it for my grocery list, and I share the note with my husband so he can add items to the list when they're running low.

I have different sections for each grocery store we use. I primarily shop at Aldi but also do Target grocery pickups, Trader Joes, and BJS wholesale club from time to time. Since those are more rare visits, I definitely don't want to forget my go-to items when I do make a trip.

At the top of the note I have a list of items I could get from any store or that I really need that week. I reference the list in the store or when creating a pick-up order, and I check off items as I get them.

Other notes I suggest keeping ...

Gifts: This one can be magical for friends and family. I keep this note to write down any gift ideas I get throughout the year. For example, my friend mentioned she loves the Capri Blue Volcano scented candle but hasn't bought one. I typed it in my Notes app discreetly and then gave the candle to her for her birthday. She was so surprised and touched that I remembered her mentioning it.

When it comes time to shop for gifts or family members are asking for ideas for kid birthdays, it can be SO helpful to have a list already drafted. Oh, and when the kiddos ask for something in the store but you don't want to buy it then, letting them know you'll add it to their gift ideas list can help soften the emotional blow.

I also note what I gifted my family and friends and how much I spent, so I can reference it from year to year.

Lastly, I keep a gift ideas list for myself as well! My spouse and I like to give each other gift ideas to make it easier and so we give each other things we really want (plus some surprise gifts in there too, of course)!

Read about organizing all your gift wrapping supplies in our blog about holiday storage.

Restaurants/coffee shops: This list is very helpful if you're like me and love variety, trying new local places, and keeping track of where you've been! I break the list into restaurants, breakfast/brunch places, breweries, desserts, and coffee shops.

I have a checklist in each category with places to try and their location. I make my list from recommendations I hear in conversation, Instagram finds, or research. Start small and add organically. Then check it off once you've been there and add any notes (didn't love it, amazing, loved the outdoor patio, wouldn't get the chicken skewers again but loved the beef skewers, etc.). Next time you have family in town or are trying to pick a date night location, this list can be super helpful.

Local walks or activity ideas: This is the same idea as the restaurant list but for local walks, trails, or activities. Make a list of suggestions you hear or places you've been. It's helpful to reference when you need weekend ideas.

Shows/movies: Keep track of shows you're currently watching (and what streaming service they're on), shows you've watched and want to watch the next season of once they're out, and shows/movies you'd like to watch.

There are so many possibilities for. notes, but those are my top used notes! Discover more about the Notes app here.

Remind Me to Get Organized

So there you have it, my top 3 apps I use to keep my life organized! We all need a little help sometimes.

Do you feel like you can't even start to get your digital life organized because you have a pile of clutter staring you in the face? Fixing it is as simple as saying "Hey Siri, remind me today at 1PM to call Hello Simplified to set up my in-home consultation." 😉

And if you're not quite ready to have us over, download our Organizing Guide to learn more about working with us and how we can take stress from your busy life.

Warmly,
Sandi