An app for that: Parents can get smarter use of that smartphone

Jess Yun
Updated ·3 min read

A necessary evil. A double-edged sword. The world in your pocket. An instant connection. If our phones are always with us, this year let's try to make sure our phones lift us up rather than weigh us down. Let's quit following social media accounts that cause us to compare and keep up. Let’s quit doom scrolling and opt to use our phones for moments of peace, life hacks, and tools to keep us organized and moving.

Mother using smart phone with daughter
Mother using smart phone with daughter

Here are apps and social media accounts that are mom-tested and mom-approved.

Organization

A to-do list, family calendar, grocery list and more–all in one spot. You can color code, sync and share with your family so everyone knows where to be and what to do.

If the idea of creating a budget is overwhelming to you, try EveryDollar. This app makes tracking spending and setting goals easy.

Self Care

If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling too much, try this app for daily affirmations, journaling prompts, mediation and intentional community – all built to improve your mental health.

Using your phone to compare yourself to fitness models and influencers is definitely not the goal, but the Peloton app has a huge variety of workouts that you can filter based on how much time you have, what music you like or what level of activity you want. It is a great way to start moving your body.

Parenting

Ever start watching a show with your kids and realize too far in that it isn’t exactly appropriate? Or has your kid ever asked to download an app all their friends are playing but you have no clue whether it is a good fit for your child and your family? Common Sense Media reviews everything from movies and books to YouTube channels, games and apps. You can see age ratings, parental reviews and even things you might want to discuss with your kid before letting them watch/play.

  • School apps

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but if your child is in school, put all the school apps on your phone. Download Backpack, Remind, Google Classroom (plus Google Sheets, Docs Drive and Slides) and whatever else your kids’ school or teacher uses and get them synced up with your calendar and to-do list. It just makes life easier.

Social Media

Influencers and “friends” who only share when life is perfect and Instagram-worthy give social media a weird vibe. Mute or unfollow any account that makes you feel less than or puts you on the hamster wheel of comparison. Then, try a few of these accounts to see if they are a better fit. (Note that we’ve linked to Instagram accounts, but you might also find these folks on Facebook, Tik Tok and other platforms.)

  • @busytoddler: easy, accessible ideas to entertain and educate little kids

  • @thegamereducator: account helps develop positive relationships with video games and screen time as a whole

  • @sharon.a.life: relatable mom life with honest commentary on mental health, body positivity and parenting

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: A Smarter Use of Your Smartphone