6 Apps To Increase Productivity
As much as I enjoy a to-do list on a good ole notepad and pencil, sometimes having all of the information on your phone is just more convenient. There's a lot to keep track of in college, and there's less hand-holding than there was in high school. It's up to you - and only you - to stay on top of 4-6 different courses, all with their own deadlines for assignments, tests, office hours, and papers.
Over the years I have found a handful of apps to be particularly useful. They are the foundation on which I built an organized life in the midst of a chaotic college career. I hope you will find them just as handy. If you don't, I recommend digging in the App store to find ones that fit your needs - because I guarantee you: there is an app for everything.
#1. Wunderlist
WOW. Just wow. This post is not sponsored by Wunderlist, but it should be because I could go on and on about it. At first glance, it is seemingly a basic way to keep a to-do list, which is actually one of the reasons I like it. It's so simple to use and basically only does one job: to-do lists. However, this particular app sticks with me because of its ability to sync lists with other people. If you are on a group project and are trying to divvy up tasks and assignments with others, with Wunderlist you can create a list that all group members are included in. You can each add tasks to the list, assign specific persons to certain tasks, and make comments on the list. Another reason to love it is that it syncs with the desktop, too! So if you're on the go and jot down a thought, it will appear on your desktop version instantly.
#2. Daylio
I have been on constant lookout for the perfect mood-tracker app. This app is perfect for students who are so busy with their academic and social lives; taking time to reflect on your emotional/mental state is sometimes overlooked. Daylio reminds you at the end of the day to create an entry: you pick an emoji that corresponds with your overall emotion of the day, you pick some graphics that pertain to your daily activities, and then you have an option to write a few sentences about your day. Daylio also keeps track of your monthly and yearly mood by creating cute little pixel graphs so you can visualize your overall emotional state on a grand scale.
#3. Quizlet
Anyone that knows me knows that I am Quizlet's biggest fan. Quizlet got me through college and this isn't an exaggeration. If you have to memorize ANYTHING (and you will have to), Quizlet will be your bff. It's a wonderful app that saves trees and time by creating digital flashcards. It then takes those words and definitions and turns them into games. I'm not kidding, I spent an embarrassingly large amount of time playing Quizlet in college. It's addicting, but you're becoming addicted to learning. Win win.
#4. Mindnode 5
This app is great for visual learners. If you would rather create a to-do list that is easy on the eyes and beautifully organizes your tasks, this app is for you. It is fun, colorful, easy to use, and makes completing tasks fun!
#5. Impartus Lecture Capture
If you are an auditory learner like me, then you'll never understand the people who hate long lectures where the professor talks the entire time. Those are my favorite and the way I receive information the most efficiently. That's why Lecture Capture is a lifesaver. It allows you to record lectures (audio only) and store them all in one place rather than having a million untitled sound recordings on your phone. I recommend taping lectures that come right before a big exam, as professors tend to give hints away that might go unnoticed the first time around. Remember to always ask permission to record a professor. Do this at the beginning of the semester. Also, this is such a common request so don't be afraid of asking. I have never had a professor say no. In fact, some will find it ambitious to learn and will remember you fondly for it.
#6. myHomework
This app was very helpful for me in keeping track of my class schedule. It allows you to input each class name, the professor, class times, office hour times, and room number. It also tracks way more than this, which might come in handy for you, but I mainly used this at the beginning of each semester as a way to help memorize my class schedule.