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| Toddler with my Samsung Galaxy Tablet |
I have written some pieces
recently that discusses the challenges of technology and how it keeps working
moms tethered to their jobs, even when they would prefer to be with their
families.
Upon reflection though, I decided
that I should discuss the other side of the story too—how technology can help
make working moms more efficient. After all, I am a part of “Verizon Moms Voices Program” and I have gotten some pretty amazing devices from Samsung, most recently the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. If used right, and on our terms, technology
can help us do more with less and give us the gift of time--the one thing that
we value more than anything except a hug from our kids.
Using Technology to Stay Organized
We as working mothers have way too much to do on a daily
basis. From taking care of all the responsibilities of a career, raising
children, housework, and helping with homework. The list seems to go on
forever. Luckily, there are ways to use all of today’s technological advances
to stay organized and be as efficient as possible.
Just about everyone has a smartphone today, which is an
amazing piece of technology. So use it for more than just texting and updating
your social media sites. ZipList
is the ultimate list planner so you stay organized and make each errand run
count. How many times do you remember you need to pick up laundry liquid while waiting
to pick up the kids only to forget when you head to do food shopping? By taking
advantage of this list tracking app once installed, you can browse recipes
while shopping so you are sure you pick up every ingredient as well as sync
your lists across multiple platforms. Best of all it is free!
Something that I find incredibly frustrating is trying to
remember all the accounts, user IDs and passwords needed to access everything.
You aren’t supposed to write anything down, as well as change your password
regularly; but how many of us actually do that? Dashlane is a free app that
can help not only keep all that information organized, it keeps it all
incredibly secure. Dashlane’s free password manager can automatically import
your passwords from your browser into your secure password vault. You can also
save any missing passwords as you browse and create a new password within the
browser. You can also get automatic alerts when websites are breached.
No matter if it is for business or pleasure, we all worry
about forgetting something when heading out on a trip. Luckily, Packing Pro is a low-cost
app that can help you prepare. Packing Pro lets you create unlimited and
completely customized packing lists and offers syncing and sharing options,
display customization, and plenty of sample lists so nothing is left to chance.
The “list assistant” can even help you make lists based on the number of adults
or children in your travel party.
While all these apps are great ways to help you stay
organized, they aren’t worth anything without making sure you have a functioning
cell phone. If you happen to drop your phone or your daughter spills juice on
your phone while watching a movie, you are completely out of luck. If you need to
replace your phone and you aren’t eligible for an upgrade, you could end up
paying full price. That leaves you with only a few options. You can go on an
auction site and attempt to purchase a replacement phone on the cheap, which
can take time to find, bid, win, get shipped, and reset or you can pay full
price at an electronics or cellular provider store. If you have a comprehensive
cell phone coverage plan, you will have a better chance of getting your
replacement phone quickly. My smartphone
coverage is through ProtectCELL and I
have been very happy with their plan options and customer service.
So make sure you use your phone for something useful that
will ultimately help you save time and stay organized. There are plenty of
great tools out there!
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