Productivity/Efficiency Question: What works for you?

Hi Friends-

 

So, in an effort to continue to simplify the things in my life that are time-sinks, I am taking a poll.  What apps or programs or systems do you use in your life on an everyday or almost every day basis?  Now that I have gone completely digital, I have too many apps and look at too many things every day.  Help!  What do YOU use?

 

I just added Cozi, an app that Flylady had designed to worked with her systems, but I am not sure yet if I will stick with it.  It does very well with multiple family member calendars thus far…

 

Email: outlook on computer and native email app on phone, they automatically sync with each other thanks to my husband.

 

Calendar: outlook on computer, native calendar on phone and now Cozi… which will win?

 

To Do Lists:  Toodledo app on phone- have set up to sync with outlook- I wish this functionality and calendar and contacts were all together on my phone and computer nicely…

 

Contacts: outlook on computer, native contacts on phone- not thrilled- they don’t sync well with each other.

 

Search:  Safari on phone, google on computer- just discovered swagbucks where you earn points that are redeemable for amazon gift cards.. don’t think that will stick.

 

Project365 app for keeping a daily photo on calendar style page- not thrilled with app, but like the idea, great for memory triggers…

 

My Fitness Pal app for calorie and exercise tracking.  Wish I had been using this (and exercising!) the last 2 months.  L

 

Facebook: to send and receive messages, post photos for friends and fam and fritter away my time.

 

As you can see, I use my phone way more than my computer these days, so I need things that work well on it…

 

I use my paper journal for only journaling and occasionally for lists when whipping out my phone feels inappropriate- like in church.  J

 

Thanks for your ideas and input!!

 

 

 

The Ground has Shifted

What a life change! A week ago, we lived near the beach in California and
now we live in SNOWY Idaho. It's been a weird transition for me. For one
thing, it felt like it took forever to get here, as almost every day for the
past 18 months, my husband and I talked and planned and praying and dreamed
about what it would be like to move. God put the dream into motion and now
we are here!

What's been hard to balance is the major shift of leaving my dearest and
wonderful friends with the shift of arriving and adjusting to a new place.
My emotions and thoughts are constantly bouncing back and forth between the
two. Last month was all about leaving (a fun time of celebration and a
perfect Alice in Wonderland Tea Party) and now this new place is beginning
to consume my thoughts.

I am trying to be gentle with myself- not doing too much organizing on any
one day, forcing myself to sit down with my knitting, saying "yes" anytime
my kids ask for my attention, trying to be patient with the other adults in
the house and allowing myself to just sit. Oh- and Eric scheduled me a
massage for tomorrow!! :) That's the best pampering there is, in my
opinion.

So mommies, use this as a reminder to take time to adjust to new places,
people, situations, seasons. Even when you decide to make a shift in your
"regular" life, give it space, time, and some pampering. When you decide to
plant your feet and protect your family's time, or to dive into
homeschooling with an attitude of fun and grace, or recommit to taking time
with a friend regularly... even these wonderful shifts can cause anxiety and
the feeling of being unsettled- change is not easy even when it's wonderful.

May the LORD bless you as we begin this month of celebrating Jesus' birth-
be gentle with yourself, stay calm, make deliberate choices and make Jesus
the center.

Oh- and the best purchase of all the money we've spent getting our house
livable, was the $7 snow shovel. The boys are in heaven.