Best Apps For Busy Moms

New year, new me, right? Every year around this time I set some goals for the upcoming year, and every year they seem to all revolve around being more organized, being more efficient, being a better mom, eating healthier, etc. So this year I really set out to find some practical ways to help with the everyday logistics of meeting these goals, and I found that there are so many apps for busy moms out there that really do LOTS of the legwork for you! 

Apps to help you like your kids more (or make them like you more?):

Calm: This app is made for adults, but does have a specific kids section, too. There’s a reason Calm was Apple’s #1 new app of 2017: It has an entire library of Sleep Stories, music for relaxation and sleep, as well as guided meditations. My six year old daughter loves looking at the calming images and listening to the music tracks. When you first create your account, you’ll choose what your goals are: better sleep, less stress, less anxiety, more gratitude, better focus, and so on. 

Chick Fil A: I don’t know about you, but we find ourselves in the Chick Fil A drive thru at least once a week (probably more) and it seems that no matter what time we go, it’s always so crazy busy! One of my savvy friends recently told me to download the app and use their mobile ordering instead of waiting in that huge line…total game changer!  You order when you’re on the way, it tracks your location and preps your meal, and when you arrive, you hit the “I’m Here” button and they come out and deliver your order to your car. How did I not know about this sooner? 

Epic!: Think of this app like Netflix for kids’ books: it’s an instant online library of hundreds of books all specifically geared towards your child’s age and interest. You can search any topic like, Martin Luther King, Jr, or Valentine’s Day, and instantly tons of books pop up on the subject. It also keeps a reading log and keeps track of reading goals. If my child has to have screen time, this is a GREAT option! 

Apps to help with grocery shopping and meal planning:

Shipt or Instacart: Two words: grocery delivery. Ideal for moms with newborns, moms with older kids that have one billion activities, moms with sick kids, etc. Both of these apps allow you to choose participating local grocery stores and buy your groceries online. Both apps seem to have slightly higher prices that in-store, but nothing major.  Shipt has no delivery fee for orders over $35 and Instacart has a $5.99 flat delivery fee. So many stores are now offering curbside pickup, but these apps take it one step further and allow you to do your normal grocery shopping without leaving the comfort of your couch. 

Our Groceries: It never fails: five minutes after I return home from the store, my husband asks, “Did you remember (my shaving cream, a 60w light bulb, that ridiculously specific hair putty I like)??” Every. Single. Time. I reached out to some friends for advice, and turns out, lots of them use the Our Groceries app to keep things straight. Our Groceries allows everyone in the family to add what they need from the grocery store/drugstore/hardware store with real-time updates.  So if I’m at the store and my husband suddenly remembers he’s completely out of said hair putty, he can add it from home and it instantly updates on my list while I’m shopping. OR if he’s shopping, I can watch from home as items get checked off the list, so I know he doesn’t forget anything! (No, I’m not a control freak, why do you ask??)

Apps to help with basic planning and organizing:

Life 360:  Basically a fancy tracking app, Life 360 is a real-time location-sharing app that helps coordinate each member of your family. At a glance, you can view the location of each family member on a private map, receive alerts when family arrive or leave home, work or school, and for those new drivers in your family, you can see information after each drive (speeding, driving irresponsibly, texting) to improve driving safety. Especially as kids get older, it’s nice to know which friend’s house they’re at (no need to find out the address, you just click on the child’s icon and it automatically links to your map app of choice), what time they get home if you’ve already gone to sleep (no more missing curfew!), or what time they’ll be home after practice, so you can time dinner accordingly. It may seem a little over the top, but I like having any child of mine that has a smart device being knowingly held to a high level of accountability and transparency. 

Cozi: Cozi Family Organizer is like your old trusty paper planner, but on your smartphone. Unlike plain calendar apps, Cozi is a shared calendar truly meant to be used by multiple people, especially larger families. It automatically color-codes each family member’s activities each day, sends reminders to yourself or others, and sends automated daily or weekly agenda emails to any family member. Also included in the app is a shopping list and/or to do list (chore checklists for kids, shared vacation packing checklist, etc) and even a recipe box capability.  No wonder Cozi was chosen as The Today Show’s “must-have app” for a better life. 

These are just a few apps for busy moms, but there are SO many more. What apps have changed your life?