As the year comes to a close, most Type A homeschool moms such as myself are planning and goal-setting for next year and next semester. Today, I’m going to share seven of my favourite productivity apps that keep me sane as a working homeschool mom and how I use them to make the most of my time. If you’re ready to get into ultimate productivity mode for the next year, check these out:
Notion
When it comes to all things homeschooling, I cannot recommend Notion enough. I mostly use the desktop version to keep my life on track (homeschooling, personal goals, finances, business, etc.), but having the app on my phone is also very handy. Doing a Notion tour of how I use the free software for keeping my homeschool organised is worth its own post and/or video. All that I’m going to say here is that when it comes to jotting down ideas for curriculum, resources, projects, book lists (even grades ahead of where my current students are), Notion is the place to keep everything organised.
Canva
When I was a classroom teacher, I used Microsoft PPT to make a lot of my handouts, worksheets and other resources because of the drag-and-drop interface. Nowadays, I use the free graphic design software Canva. I use it for every type of school form, worksheet, game or any other type of resource imaginable. And the great thing about Canva – the reason it’s on my list of productivity apps – is because of how easy it is to keep projects organised. For example, I can have all of my French vocabulary cards in their own folder. At this point, I don’t know what I’d do without it. It definitely deserves to be recognised as one of the best productivity apps for homeschool moms.
iCalendar
If you’re a Mac or iPhone user, you know iCalendar. I use it for looking at the year, month and week in advance. It’s where I put holidays, birthdays, hair cuts, doc appts, playdates – everything. When I’m out and about and need to schedule something, it’s the app I pull up to see if I”m available.
Google Calendar
So if I use iCalendar, why is Google Calendar on the list? Well… call me crazy, but I use Google Calendar to time block my days. I don’t time block every day, but when I have multiple appointments and work assignments due and I need to make sure that it’s possible, logistically, to get everything done, I use Google Calendar to plan out my day.
Tasks
This is a new app for me, but I’m already loving it. (It’s related to Google Calendar.) Sometimes, I need to be reminded of something in future. I can put it on a calendar app, but I want to make sure I get a notification so a ball doesn’t get dropped. For example, following up with somebody a few months later about something. This is where the Tasks app comes in. I can make sure I get a reminder that stays up on my phone until I dismiss it, whether or not I check my calendar that day or not.
Clock
I talk about this in my productivity pdf (linked at the bottom of this post). But I set timers for absolutely everything. It’s one of my great productivity “hacks”. Especially when you’re on the go a lot. I have start and end times for our school day, I set timers to remind myself when to stop what I’m doing to make dinner or when it’s time to get ready to go somewhere. (NOT time to go. Time to get READY to go.) This is the app that single-handedly keeps our family running on time and never late.
Notes
Last but not least, the Notes app that comes on your smartphone. I have a few notes that I pin to the top for running lists (groceries, organised by which store I need to get them at), a Master Meal list for when I’m feeling uninspired about what to add to my meal plan and a TO DO list. I don’t generally keep my bullet journal in my purse. If I’m out and about and To Dos start popping into my head, I have a note ready to brain dump everything until I have a chance to organise it in my bullet journal.
So let me know, did I miss anything? How do you stay on top of EVERYTHING? What are your best productivity apps for us fellow homeschool moms?
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