Hi, my name is Carly Clydesdale, and I am an iPhone addict. Yes, I’ve always been attached to my phone. When I was a Blackberry user, it too was glued to my palm 24/7. However the introduction of the iPhone 4 changed my life (probably for the worse). The touch screen! The games! The apps! Suddenly my life has taken a nosedive into unproductivity. It is rare that my phone isn’t in my hand, and if you’re looking for a reliable texter, you’ve found ‘er. My response time is lightning fast, unlike some friends of mine (I’m looking at you, Nikki and Kathleen).
While my iPhone brings about hours of procrastination, there are in fact a few apps that make aspects of my life more productive. Apps are an amazing way to stay organized; some may be time wasters (Flappy Bird ruined me for a solid month), but others are awesome ways to better your life!
Duolingo
Always wanted to learn another language but don’t want to commit to a class? This app lets you set goals- i.e. 15 minutes per day- and is incredibly easy to use. I work on my reading/writing skills while I’m on the subway, and scream at my phone in a terrible French accent when I’m alone in my apartment. It’s a blast!
Skimmin
I have a friend (not naming names…) who is always asking me for details on popular news stories. I fake exasperation, but in reality I love being informed and being able to tell her what’s going on in the world. Skimmin is a news resource that summarizes popular headlines in layman’s terms, and provides links to more in-depth articles; now I’m up to date on all the sportsing!
PS Express
I don’t know about you, but my eyes are ALWAYS red in photos, and I’ve really struggled to find an editing app that fixes things up just the way I want it to. Photoshop Express has probably the best red-eye removal tool I’ve seen on an iPhone, and the filters are natural yet they make you look great! Oh, and it’s free…which is a real plus.
Mint
I have endless praise for this app. Mint has changed the way I budget and manage my money. Granted I still overspend and struggle to live within my means, but Mint lays out all of your expenses and shows you how much you spend in certain categories. Now I’m aware of the $100000 I spend per month on coffee, and it also reminds me when my Visa bill is due. Thanks, Mama Mint!
Trello
I am the queen of making lists. I pride myself on being organized and remembering things, but lately simple dates and events have been slipping my mind. Trello lets me make lists on lists on lists in my phone, and is super helpful in setting reminders. For scatterbrains and type-A freaks alike, this app is a gem.