Have you ever wished you had your own personal assistant? It's much easier than you thought. With over half of all Americans owning a smartphone, your personal assistant is just a few clicks away. Don't own one yet? The monthly fee for your phone would be far cheaper than a personal assistant and provide you with a great tax deduction so what are you waiting for?
Here are nine ways a smartphone can make your life easier.
Menu Planning - Having your meals planned out in advance saves you time and frustration every evening when it comes to figuring out what's for dinner. In addition, if you are attempting to watch what you eat, having a plan is the best thing you can do for yourself. There are many great free apps for both Android and iPhone. The one I'm using is AlltheCooks.
Grocery List - Have you ever gone to the store and gotten back only to discover there was something you needed in that recipe you forgot to get? Keeping a grocery list is a huge time saver. AlltheCooks has a grocery list feature. Since my husband and I both do the shopping (depending on who is out and about), we share a list using Evernote. Either one of us can update it and we both have it on our phones when needed. No more texting each other to pick up the milk.
Reading - Reading is a habit that the most successful people do regularly. Kindle has a free app for phones to catch up on that latest personal development book (like Positivity on Purpose: Intentionally Create More Abundance, Wealth and Happiness
by Nicole Bandes). If you tend to want to turn your car into a mobile university, you can download the Audible.com app and listen to audio books while you drive. Feedly.com and the app helps you to keep updated on whatever news or blogs you want to follow, a great source for continuing content to share on your social media sites.
Notes - Stop spending time thinking about things you have to remember. Write them down! Use a program like Evernote or Life System Organizer to record things you need to remember. Take notes in meetings, record questions you have to ask your doctor at your next visit, or just record reminders to yourself.
Mileage Log - When you use your car for business, it's important to keep track of your mileage. There are some great apps you can use for free. Since my husband and I use the same vehicle and I needed a solution that worked for both of us, I created a Google Drive spreadsheet. At the end of the year, I can just print it out and give it to my accountant. No more taking time to do the math or wonder if I missed a trip.
Banking - I rarely step foot in a bank anymore. Most of my payments are direct deposited and most of my bills are paid online. However, I do have one check that comes in once a month plus the random rebate check now and again. Your bank probably has a smartphone app that lets you take a photo of the check and do a deposit without ever setting foot in the bank! It's a huge time saver.
Scan Receipts - Stop the shoe box insanity! Receipts don't have to make you feel like a hoarder in training. Use your smartphone to take pictures of your receipts and either email them to yourself or store them via Google Drive or another smartphone app. No more keeping receipts in your purse or on your desk. One quick photo and they are taking care of.
Budget - Oh that dirty word! With most of us spending more and more time on our smartphones and less time on the computer, doing tasks that are routine during down time can have a huge benefit. There are apps for Quicken that integrate with your computer software or use one just for smartphones like Mint.com. Besides, having your budget right on your phone may tell you whether or not that sale on pumps is a smart buy or something you should put off for today.
Gift Giving Organizer - The holidays are coming up. If you haven't started managing your gift giving yet, you are adding undo stress in your life. An app such as Christmas Gift List can help you track what you've bought, how much you've spent, what's been mailed and more.
What do you do with your smartphone that makes your life easier? Share in the comments below.
Nicole Bandes
Having successfully helped hundreds of business leaders stop feeling overwhelmed and out of control so that they have time to achieve that "one more thing" that will make all the difference, Nicole's clients often tell her that she has the magical ability to create time where it didn't exist before.
Latest posts by Nicole Bandes (see all)
- Top 10 From 2015 - January 8, 2016
- Video: How to Overcome Procrastination - December 2, 2015
- Being Late Isn’t Acceptable – It’s Rude - November 20, 2015
You can also use your Smart Phone to make money, send out your blog, market to your clients / customers with coupons and so much more!
I would rather make money with mine.