Organising your notes and to-do lists can be a daunting task, even for those of us who are motivated by New Year’s resolutions and a commitment to being more productive. Luckily, smartphone apps can help! Try the 5 apps below.
1. Google Keep
Google Keep is handy for a variety of tasks because of the many ways you can store, pin and attach images to notes. Rather than relying on notes in one app, saved links in another and checklists in yet another, Google Keep acts as a central hub for all of it. You can even use different colours and labels to help you visually separate different notes for different categories. For example, if you’re keeping research notes for a project, you can use the same colour or label to group them together. Google Keep has also introduced folders to make it even easier to keep track of tasks.
To use Google Keep, you simply need to log in with your Gmail account. This will keep the app synced across all your devices and in your internet browser. Google Keep is available on Android and iOS.
2. TickTick
If you’re really bad at following up on your to-do list or remembering to complete tasks, TickTick may be the app for you. It’s perfect for keeping track of different tasks and for setting reminders. TickTick can send notifications to you at specific times and even repeat reminders if needed. You can also set the priority level of a task to identify how important it is.
If you complete a task, you get the satisfaction of ticking it off your list. If you can’t get to it right away, you can snooze it for a few hours or even a few days. The app will remind you daily that you have pending tasks until you complete them.
TickTick is available on Android and iOS.
3. Trello
If you prefer a more visual presentation of your tasks, Trello is a great way to keep track. The app allows you to sort tasks and track projects on different boards. When progress is made a task can be moved to the next stage or handed off to a colleague. This makes it the perfect collaboration tool. You can also use it as your own virtual vision board to track your progress with specific goals. Add-ons provide special features and layouts to your boards.
Trello can be used through your desktop internet browser or on mobile. It’s available on Android and iOS.
4. Asana
Asana is a great app for keeping notes, tasks and due dates in one central place. While you can use the app for your personal life, it's very effective in keeping track of work and other assignments. You can share tasks and assign them to different team members so that you can keep up with each other's progress in projects. You can also split tasks into sub-tasks to better keep track of things you need to do.
Asana is available on Android and iOS.
5. Microsoft OneNote
OneNote is part of Microsoft’s suite of free mobile apps and works in a similar way to Google Keep. It allows you to store notes in a central hub, including photos of things to remember (such as receipts). It also allows you to create checklists, hand-drawn sketches and notes, as well as specific notebooks which act as folders for sorting your items. You can even sync it with other Microsoft apps, such as Sticky Notes or OneDrive.
OneNote is available on Android and iOS.
Bonus: VodaPay App
Waiting in line is the perfect time to check out your Vodacom bill, your balances and your upgrade date on the VodaPay App. Plus, you can recharge or buy bundles to stay connected 24/7 and link all your accounts to have full transparency of your bills. Download the VodaPay app for free and browse the app for free, too – it’s zero-rated, so you don’t need data to use it. (You will need data to download it, however.)
