6 APPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR SORORITY LIFE

Today is the first day back to school for many of you. Whether you're excited to get back to the daily grind or wishing you were still in your warm bed (or both), chances are you are probably procrastinating from organizing all of your syllabus information so you decided to peruse the internet. We have all been there. The beginning of the semester can be a little overwhelming and despite your enthusiasm, there may be a little voice in your head asking you if taking 17 hours was really a good idea. Trust me - you can handle it! You have likely done it before and you can manage it again. It is all about organization which is why I have put this little post together just in time for today and to hush that little voice in your head.

To be honest, I don't know how college students functioned before all of this great technology and I am so glad I didn't have to be one of them. I did start college before the rise of tablets and vowed to myself I would get one in time for grad school. Toting my iPad around instead of my MacBook was a game changer, but it's all about the apps! It doesn't matter what brand of products you are using, apps make life happen these days. Below are just a few of my favorite that I continue to use on a weekly basis. Getting in the habit of using them now in college will help establish a routine for use in the future.

TODOIST - My newest and current favorite app is todoist. Basically, it is a highly organized to do list. You can divide your tasks up by project or by what you need to complete in that day, the week, whenever. My favorite part about todoist is that there is a browser version and a phone app (I haven't checked to see if there is a tablet app yet). It syncs automatically so if you check something off on your iPhone it will show up on your computer and vice versa. Right now, I have two accounts - one for work and one for the blog. There is an upgrade option to get more features, but I haven't needed those. Right now, I am content with the free version!

It would be such a great tool to keep everyone on track in group projects OR in chapter. Remember your chapter plan? Set out your to dos on todoist to keep everyone up-to-date!

GOOGLE DRIVE - I would be lying if I said I wasn't obsessed with Google. Gmail is my favorite email provider because of all of the free built-in apps. Of those apps, Google Drive is the. best. I don't know how many times I have used Google Drive for group projects and now at work. I know that chapters use different computer systems now, but one chapter in my undergrad would use the Forms on Google Drive for Sisters to sign-up for the t-shirts they wanted to buy. Instead of keeping up with one piece of paper among many you might receive in chapter, all of the information in compiled in a spreadsheet on your Drive. 

Also, Google has made Google Drive apps for your phone and tablet. This has been such a lifesaver for me because I can just lookup whatever on there instead of having to print off notes to carry with me. You can also upload almost anything to Google Drive.

MOLESKINE - I have to admit that I have basically used every single note taking app available in the app store on my iPad. I have paid for them. I have used free ones. I have purchased a stylus for some. But I have never found one that worked for me, until Moleskine came out with their app. First off, it's free! Second, it is so great! You can type, draw, anything you want.

You can also use different notebooks in your app. How many do you normally buy? Now you can have all of them in one place and you don't have to worry about leaving a specific one at home as long as you remember to grab your tablet!

DROPBOX - Obviously you know about Dropbox. It is the online app where you can upload anything and share it with whoever you would like. They also have phone and tablet apps (can you tell this is important to me?) which makes life so easy!! If your chapter doesn't have one already, I highly encourage you to set one up. You can upload bylaws, recruitment rules, inspirational quotes, contact lists, birthdays, etc!

MINT - I wish I would have started utilizing Mint a long time ago. Now that I have, I have such a better hold on my spending and always know exactly where my money is going. You can setup different budgets and see how much you have leftover each month. I did a post on budgeting and using Mint few months ago. Again, phone and tablet apps are available. I'm not crazy about their iPad app, but I use the iPhone app all the time! Use it to see if you can afford to buy that extra t-shirt this month or make a goal to go on Spring Break with your Sisters!

GMAIL - A lot of schools have their university email directed through Gmail these days. Do yourself a favor and forgo the standard mail app on your phone and download the Gmail app. You don't have to worry about downloading everything and not being able to search for it. It is all right there! Again, download it for your tablet, too! I am always having to search for old emails and the Gmail app just makes it so easy for a quick reference. Also, your filters and labels automatically transfer over and that may be the best thing ever.

Obviously, these are my favorites and I know you have yours as well so please share your favorite apps and what you use them for below!