10 iPhone Apps I Have on My Phone That Can Reduce Stress & Make Moms (and Dads) Happier!

If you are like me, and are an Apple fan, you probably have several gadgets with the Apple logo on them – probably an iPhone, iPad, or both!  And if you’ve spent any time in the app store, you know that there are a TON of iPhone and iPad apps out there!  I can spend a fair amount of time just browsing or looking for the best one to do whatever it is I’m looking to do.

I thought you might be interested in hearing about some of my favorite apps on my iPhone/iPad.  So, here goes; 10 apps that I truly believe help to reduce some of the stress in my life and make me happier!  : D  (There are many other apps I like, so I will probably end up making this a series of posts featuring some of my personal favorites in different categories.)

In no particular order;

1.  Rapid Remind:  (99 cents)  This is a simple little reminder tool that I like to use instead of the timer alarm that’s built into the clock app on my phone when I’m setting the alarm for some reason that I think I might forget.  Confused?  Ok, let me explain.

If I need to set my alarm for 5 minutes for my son’s time out, I will simply use the standard timer/alarm.  (Of course, that’s totally hypothetical because my children are perfect and never need time outs.)  But, if I want to remind myself to make a phone call or to give my son his medicine an hour from now, I might use Rapid Alarm because then when the timer goes off, the message I inputted will show up as well, reminding me why I set the alarm in the first place.

I also sometimes use it for one time events further off, like if I want to remember to do something tomorrow, it can be easier to set this – with the reminder – than go through the multiple steps it would take to enter the reminder on my calendar.  Could I just put it on my to-do list?  Sure, but I don’t put specific times on those, so no alarm is going to go off to remind me of any particular item.

2.  AudioNote: ($4.99)  I originally bought this app after researching options for apps to be able to record speakers at conventions and take notes, via the keyboard or stylus pen, at the same time.  This works great for that.  One of the features I love is the ability to go back to a particular section of the audio with one click in the section of my notes that I took at that point in the recording.  I can also email all of my notes and the audio to myself to save somewhere other than on my iPad or iPhone.  (I tend to use this on my iPad more often when I’m taking a lot of notes because then I have more writing/typing room.)

What I like to use this app for on a more regular basis is to record quick verbal notes of thoughts I have when I’m driving or too busy to otherwise stop to write them down.  I can then very quickly email the note to myself to deal with later when I have more time.

It’s obviously a more robust app than the voice memo app that comes on the phone.  And even for quick notes, I like this one better because I can name the note what I want without multiple steps that are necessary with the included voice app.

3.  Progressive Alarm Clock: ($1.99)  There are a TON of alarm clock apps out there, but this is my favorite of all the ones I’ve seen.  I’ve been using this every morning that I’ve needed an alarm for a year or two now.  What I LOVE about it is that it doesn’t jar you awake suddenly.  Instead, you choose which of several Tibetan signing bowl sounds and a pattern for a gentle waking.  (If you don’t know what Tibetan bowls sound like, like I didn’t before I had this alarm, go check it out.  Very pretty! : )

For example, I use the Dengze bowl sounds and alarm pattern 2, which would take 6 min and 40 min to run though it’s entire pattern.  I usually wake up within the first minute or so, but it’s a nice gradual wake because the bowl sounds will start like this for a 6:30 wake up time:

6:30:00 Ring 1% Volume, then wait 20 sec.
6:30:20 Ring 2% Volume, then wait 20 sec.
6:30:20 Ring 3% Volume, then wait 20 sec.

and so on…by 6:34:20 it will ring at 50% volume and by 6:36:40 it will ring every 5 seconds at 100% – which I never get to, but that’s just me.

TIP:  You do not have to have the ringer on your phone on for this to work.  I actually use this on my iPad, and it works the same way.

4.  mSecure: ($9.99)  This is my go to app for storing all of that information you want to have on hand when you need it but don’t want to keep it anywhere where it could be easily accessible.  For example, I keep my credit card numbers, frequent flyer numbers, some website log in and passwords, my kids lunch money account numbers, etc. in it.

5.  Wunderlist: (Free) I actually bought this to-do list application for my desktop first, but also have the app on my phone (which is synced with my desktop computer), so I can see my list or add to it while on the go.

I’ve used several to-do lists over the past few years, and I don’t think I’ve yet to find one that does EXACTLY what I want it to do, but I’m liking this one a lot right now because how simple it is to add items and due dates as well as arrange the order of items for any given day.  I like to look at my list each morning and prioritize what I want to get done (you can star the must do items as well) before I start my day because I know not everything on my list will actually get accomplished.

The window with my list is never closed on my computer!

6.  Find iPhone: (Free) If you haven’t put this app on your phone, iPad and any mac portable items that can have apps, you must do so right now!  And, you need to first enable “Find My iPhone” in your settings.  Once that’s done, you can use any other computer that’s online or an iPhone or iPad with the app to locate your missing phone/pad/computer on a map.  You can even send a message or play a sound to help you locate it.

I have, on more than one occasion, lost my iPhone and started to freak out thinking it was long gone somewhere.  But, after using the app, I was able to see that it was actually nearby.  I then sent a message and started listening to see where it is.  TIP:  This is great if you let a child play on your phone and all of a sudden you can’t find it!  : )

Another good security feature with this is you can send a message to whomever might be near your phone, asking them to call you, if you discover you did leave it at a pubic place that you are no longer at.  If that doesn’t work, you can actually initiate remote whip to restore the phone to its factory settings so someone else can’t get your data.  (Another good reason to back up your phone so if you had to ever do that, you wouldn’t lose all of your stuff!)

7.  Flixter: (Free) This is my go-to app to see what movie is playing where and at what times, as well as check out what kind of reviews it’s getting.  You can even watch movie trailers with this.

8.  Open Table: (Free) Open Table is an app that allows you to make reservations through Open Table, which is a website.  Open Table tends to have nicer casual to fancy restaurants; places that take reservations and participate in the Open Table system.  I love using this when I’m in a town I’m not familiar with because not only can I see the menus and diner reviews to help me decide where to go, but I also earn points with most restaurants I book.  You can then trade in those points for dining certificates to use at any Open Table restaurant.

9.  iPeriod: (Free) Ok, so this is one that’s not applicable for any dads reading this.  : )  It’s a simple app which has a free version that is plenty good enough for my needs.  It does a great job of tracking my period dates and predicting when my next ones will be.   It lets you track all sorts of other things, like symptoms, moods and such, but I just ignore all of that.

If you are trying to get pregnant, you can also see when would be the best days to try for that next baby!  And then, once you ARE pregnant, call me to get your newborn session on the calendar! : )

10.  And, the best for last: Your VERY OWN app featuring photos from YOUR session at Portrait Art by Lisa Marie!

You can’t buy this one in the iTunes App Store.  It’s my gift to you when with your portrait investment from a session at Portrait Art by Lisa Marie!

Your own personal iPhone/iPad app features wonderful photos of your child(ren) or family and can be yours to share with people everywhere you go!  It’s a digital brag book!

Check out this one I did for a recent senior:  Haley 2013

If you click on that link while on a desktop computer, it will show you a simulated iPad version.  If you were to click on it while on your iPad or iPhone, it actually creates an app with a cool icon and everything; just like all of your other apps!

Another great feature is you can reach me via, phone or email, though the app with just a click of a button so if you’re showing a friend your super cute photos and they’d like to get in touch with me to find out more about a session of their own, you can send me a quick email with your friends info, and I’d get in touch with them ASAP!  No need to find a scrap of paper to write my info on or try to dig around in your purse for one of those business cards you have.  Easy-peasy! : )

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favorite “make life easier” apps.  What are YOUR favorite apps for saving time or reducing stress in your life?  I’d love to hear what you’re using!  Please scroll down and post a comment to share!

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