Your ultimate guide to productivity, organization, and self-care
If you’re anything like me, you probably already have a proud collection of apps on your phone, tablet, and laptop combined. In today’s ever-connected age, we’re constantly one tap away from accessing endless possibilities via our devices. Students in particular have quite a few needs during the school year, from note-taking to research. Luckily, specialized apps for productivity, organization, and self-care make life, well, so much easier. Read on for LeadYouth’s (non-sponsored) top five recommendations from a student just like you.
#1 Overall: Notion
Notion | iOS, Android, web | Free
This all-in-one note-taking, productivity, and organization tool is handy for everyone, not just students. Featuring a minimalist interface and customizable icons, it’s safe to say that Notion is easy to use for web beginners, but don’t be fooled—tech-savvy students will appreciate the kanban boards, databases, and embedding tools. What’s more, templates for student dashboards, notebooks, and calendars are free to use. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try creating your own pages, too.
#1 for To-Do Lists: Any.do
Any.do | iOS, Android | Free
For the busiest bees out there, this versatile to-do list app is built for you. With reminders, sharing, and task assigning capabilities, Any.do allows you to collaborate real-time with anyone, from team members to family. You can also add a widget to your home screen for easy access, without the need to open the app at all. Is there anything better than checking something off a to-do list? Not that I can think of at the moment.
#1 for Sleep Management: Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle | iOS, Android | Free
We all know the feeling: waking up from a satisfying dream to find that you’ve overslept the alarm, badly. Sleep Cycle eliminates the problem of a rough start to the day by waking you during your lightest sleep pattern. It does this by analyzing your ideal sleep cycle, from the time you hit the pillow to the sun rising. If anyone needs this app more than most, it’s students—how many times have you heard grumbles about someone’s hours of sleep, or lack thereof? Even better, you can snooze your alarm by simply moving your phone in bed.
#1 for Reference: Oxford Dictionary of English
Oxford Dictionary | iOS, Android | Free
As a student, you probably know the merits of having a dictionary on hand. After all, there’s nothing more satisfying than proving to someone that yes, “onomatopoeia” really is spelled like that. Besides showing off to your friends, you can use this handy pocket dictionary for school assignments, book reports, essays, or anything remotely English-related. The best thing of all? The Oxford Dictionary app is downloaded onto your phone, so you don’t need an Internet connection to access it.
#1 for Wellness: Calm
Calm | iOS, Android | $70/year
Sometimes, all you need is a well-deserved rest from the madness. Calm is a meditation and stress-relieving app that can give you just that. With dozens of meditation videos, music, and masterclasses for self-improvement, Calm caters to every student who’s struggling through exam season—or anybody, really. Following a 7-day free trial, this app costs $70/year.
Conclusion
No matter what kind of student you are, you might just need some tools in your pocket to tackle the upcoming school year. These five apps for iOS and Android in particular stood out to us as superstars for productivity, organization, and wellness. They may not guarantee you an A plus, but they’re certainly a step—or tap—of the way there.