Get Organized Now! Weblog

My Favorite Phone Apps

Today, a friend asked me what apps I have on my iPhone. She has over 200--many of which she never uses, and she says they're cluttering up her phone screen. Plus, it's difficult for her to find those apps that she uses often, without scrolling back and forth constantly.

Just as physical clutter and paper clutter can build, so can 'virtual' clutter, like clutter found in your email inbox, on your computer, and YES, on your smart phone.

If you get an app, and you never use it, it's clutter and it should be deleted from your smartphone.

Here are my current favorite Phone Apps. This is not to say they will be tomorrow's favorites, but at this moment in time, this is what I have:

Apps that came with my iPhone that I don't have the option of deleting (they're all on the first 'page' of my iPhone screen:

Calendar
Weather
Maps
Notes
Utilities
App Store
Game Center
Settings
Stocks
Photos
Camera
Messages
Contacts
Phone
Mail
Safari
iPod

Apps that I have on my iPhone in addition to those that came with the phone (all of these are on 'pages 2 and 3' of my iPhone screen and I use them regularly--some daily:

iTunes
YouTube
Netflix
Shazam
Phanfare
The Weather Channel
Facebook
Twitter
Virtuoso
Amazon.com
Evernote
All Recipes
Fox News
Check Please
AroundMe
Pandora
Seize The Day
Dragon Dictation
Fandango
Google
Angry Birds
Groupon
Living Social
Cool Facts
Birthdays

Remember, clutter can take many forms. Don't allow your smart phone to become a clutter trouble spot. Keep your apps under control and your phone will not only be organized, but will also help you stay productive and stress-free each day.

Your Concentration Will Improve if You Surf the Web at Work

Yesterday, I was enjoying my most recent issue of Woman's Day Magazine, when I came across a statistic I'm sure many of you will like. I liked it, so much so that I did a bit more research on the subject.

According to a University of Melbourne study, people who surf the Web at work have better concentration and are 9% more productive than those who don't.

Dr Brent Coker, from the Department of Management and Marketing. says, 'People who do surf the Internet for fun at work--within a reasonable limit of less than 20% of their total time in the office--are more productive by about 9% than those who don't. Firms spend millions on software to block their employees from watching videos on YouTube, using social networking sites like Facebook or shopping online under the pretense that it costs millions in lost productivity, however that's not always the case.'

Apparantly, the increased productivity has to do with one's need to occasionally 'zone out' enabeling one's mind to take a rest.

But beware, you're advised to surf the Internet at work in moderation. Too much surfing can actually have the opposite effect. And, be sure it's OK with your boss. If it's not, you're next surf session may be for another job.