7 Awesome Productivity Apps

These are some of my favorite apps for keeping on top of things.  I do have an iPhone, but most of them have an Android version too.  Hope you find some helpful tips!

1. Wunderlist – This app is a list-maker’s dream because it lets you make lists of lists. Technically, you create folders of lists, but close enough.  For example, under “To Purchase,” you might have lists for groceries, presents for people, a personal wish list, etc.  Under “Work, you might have a list for each project.  In comparison to some other list or to-do apps, I find this a satisfying way to maintain all of my lists in one accessible spot but also separate personal and work-related tasks.
2. Alarmy – This is my current alarm clock app. When you set the alarms, you choose a “mission” to complete when the alarm goes off.  For example, you can do a few math problems, take a picture of something, or scan a barcode.  My morning mission is to scan the barcode on my toothpaste.  This 100% guarantees that I get out of bed because I can’t silence the alarm until I’ve found my toothpaste and scanned it.  By this point, I’m awake enough to proceed with my day.  I also like this app because it’s completely customizable.  You can set alarms that repeat on any days of the week you choose.
3. Reminders – Yes, this is one of the iPhone’s built-in apps. I think it’s great.  While I generally prefer Wunderlist for my multitude of lists, I use this one purely for quick reminders.  Things like sending an email at a specific time, refilling a prescription, returning library books, calling someone on their birthday, etc.
4. Productive – This app is helpful for habit formation. You will receive reminders for any habits you want to establish on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.  For example, if you want to make your bed every morning, this app will send you a reminder each morning.  When you complete the task, you cross it off, and the app keeps track of how often you complete it.  Especially if you are visual, it can be helpful to see your stats when you are trying to create new habits.  No one wants to lose a good streak!
5. Balanced – This app is similar to Productive, but it won’t give you timed reminders. Instead, you specify activities you wish to do with some regularity, and the app helps you recognize whether you are living your life in balance.  I use this to record my hobbies.  For example, you might say you want to do yoga twice a week and go on a run twice a week.  If you haven’t done one of these activities for a few days, then you will get a reminder for it.
6. Scannable – This app is fairly self-explanatory. It lets you scan documents.  I like this one because you can scan many pages at once and the app will compile them into a pdf, which you can email yourself or sync with your Evernote account.
7. Unroll.me – This app helps you keep a handle on your email. It will unsubscribe you from newsletters or promotional emails you no longer want to receive.  In addition, if you decide you would like to continue receiving those emails, you have the option to “roll them up” into one newsletter per day.  This way you don’t have to spend time deleting the individual emails, but you can still access their content if desired.  I find it helpful but want to point out that the app does collect data for market research, so you might want to skip it if you have privacy concerns.