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Who would have ever thought that cell phones would become a tool that we can’t seem to live without?  Once reserved for certain people in society such as celebrities and government officials, it seems that everyone, including children, has a cell phone

In times past, the primary function of a cell phone was most likely to make and receive phone calls on what looked like a brick with an antenna.  As cell phone design and technology advanced, people were able to browse the internet and communication via text messages was made possible by using the alternate functions of the number keys.
Fast forward to today where our cell phones do so much more.  What once allowed for basic forms of communication, modern cellular devices allow us to do things like binge watch our favorite tv shows, read books, make movies and videos and of course take the perfect selfie. In addition to that is the fact that cell phones can literally function as personal assistants, helping with day to day activities and interests with the use of apps.   There is an app for any and everything you can think of, both free and paid, which can help make navigating your day and life easier.  With a quick download on your cell phone, you can do a multitude of things like manage your calendar, create a workout plan, hail a ride, get a therapy session and even meditate.  Below are 12 of my favorite apps that can possibly help you manage your day to day activity:

The Weather Channel.  Never get caught out there again without being equipped with the proper weather attire such as snow boots or an umbrella.  The Weather Channel app gives you up to the minute alerts and data regarding weather activity in your area. There are also features such as news, live radar maps, allergy alerts and additional benefits of getting up to 15 days of weather forecasts, sunset times and the best running times with the Go Run feature. Annual subscriptions available.

Evernote.  Keep all of your ideas, notes, photos and projects in one place with Evernote. Anything that is a text, sketch, photograph, screenshot or audio can be saved/uploaded to Evernote, thus making it a wonderful creative and archival space. You can use your phone’s camera to scan and digitize documents, business cards, and more. Everything that you put in Evernote is searchable and syncs across platforms so you can start on one device and finish on another (tablet, computer or phone) without compromising information.  You can also share your information with others. Annual and business subscriptions available.

Stop Breathe Think.  This meditation and mindfulness app is wonderful for simple guided meditation.  Stop Breathe Think has breathing exercises, soundscapes and also recommends meditation, yoga and acupressure videos.  You can also explore various topics such as stress management and guide journaling.   There are over 40 free and over 100 premium activities which allow you customize your experience.  Monthly and annual subscriptions available.

Hootsuite.  Hoot suite allows you to organize your social media life in one place.  It helps you save time by allowing you to schedule posts (pics, text, stories, etc) with an auto or customized schedule to various social platforms.  View and edit before posting as well as view all of your comments, likes, retweets and reposts.

Canva/Over. No graphic design experience or degree is necessary with these apps. Canva and Over enable you to create graphics for business cards, invites, forms and so much more. You can create from a templates or add graphics, captions and logos to a photo from your library. No computer is necessary because you can create on your phone then post directly to social media or other platform.  Monthly and annual subscriptions available.

Focus Watch.  If saying focused and productive on a particular task is an opportunity for you, Focus Watch can hel with task performance and  efficiency.  Focus watch analyzes your productivity and allows you to give yourself timed breaks.  It also works in the background so you can resume activity and get notified with an alarm at the end when your allotted time is up.

Water Reminder.  Who needs to drink more water?  Who continually forgets to drink more of said water?  Well there is an app for that too. Water reminder allows you to track hydration and let’s you know how much water your body needs.  It also sends you a reminder to drink up so you can achieve your goal.

Clue Period & Cycle Tracker.  Take the guesswork out of tracking your reproductive activity with Clue.  Clue allows you to track things like your period,  ovulation, basal body temperature, fertility and PMS systems. You can set Clue up to work for you by setting reminders, personalizing tracking options and even back up your information.  With continued use, Clue which becomes more intuitive to your cycle.

My Fitness Pal.  If you are focused on tracking your food intake and nutrition for fitness or other reasons, My Fitness Pal has you covered. It has the largest database of food to choose from whether it’s from your favorite restaurant, pre packaged or homemade, making it easy to track your food/caloric intake. Tracking this information is easy with the ability to scan barcodes.  You can get in depth information regarding micro/macronutrients and estimated calories burned during workouts as well as sync with your other favorite fitness apps for a seemless experience.  Unlock all features with a monthly subscription.

Sworkit Fitness & Workout.  Feel like you are pressed for time with a schedule filled to the brim of your existence but need to squeeze in a quick workout?  Try Sworkit, an at home app that helps you achieve your fitness goals, even in a pinch.  Sworkit allows you to customize a workout to meet your needs, whether all you have is 6 or 60 minutes.  You can choose from what you need – HIIT, yoga, cardio, as well as chat 1 on 1 with trainers and track your performance.

Blinkist.  Become more knowledgeable and insightful in about 15 minutes daily with Blinkist.   Choose from over 3000 bestselling nonfiction books, to broaden your thinking and sharpen your skills across multiple categories including personal development, health, nutrition, and culture.  Available in audio and text and across multiple devices (IOS and Android).  There is a free 7 day trial as well a free subscription.

Noonlight.  It goes without saying that there is a heightened level of concern around personal safety these days.  Anything can happen at any given time and place and the ability to alert emergency personnel with the touch of a button is important.  Noonlight is a safety platform and mobile app that triggers alerts to emergency assistance.  With advanced technology, moonlight gets help to your exact location when you release the button.   Setup is easy with four pieces of information and Noonlight integrates on all of your devices and there is no need for phone calls or technicians to visit you.