There’s no sugarcoating it: the world is more burned out than ever, and this constant state of exhaustion has become sadly normalized. Some work two or more jobs just to make ends meet, others deprioritize self-care and fun hobbies, and the majority put what makes life worth living on the backburner. On top of that, our minds are constantly occupied. Maybe you need to remember to reschedule an appointment, look for that lost debit card, and spend time updating your calendar. With so many administrative tasks piling up, it can feel like you need a personal assistant just to stay afloat.
While we’re in an era of exhaustion, we’re also living in a time of quiet efficiencies that could help us stress a little less. All we need to do is learn to use those tools. Equally overwhelmed by the number of productivity hacks out there? We’ve got the solutions you need right here.
Take Control of Your Subscriptions with Tracking Tools
Subscriptions are hyper-convenient—until they aren’t. In reality, they require a lot of attention to avoid surprise charges and unwanted renewals. Meal kits keep you fed, streaming services keep you entertained, gym memberships keep you active, and coworking space subscriptions keep you productive. But with so many subscriptions to keep track of, it’s easy to forget what you’ve signed up for. Most services require manual intervention and won’t automatically cancel if you’re not using the service, which can add up significantly over time.
If you rely on subscriptions to simplify your life, you need a subscription tracking app. Your Apple ID collates all your Apple subscriptions under a neat Subscriptions tab so you can easily cancel or renew them as needed. But for those outside the Apple ecosystem, Bobby can help you manage 260+ subscription services in a minimalist interface and let you know what you’re spending. Want a more granular look? TrackMySubs has a calendar view and detailed chart breakdown for your viewing pleasure.
Keep Your Spending in Check with Auto-Scan Apps
Not all banks have the proper budgeting and spending tools that give you a clear picture of where your money is going. While you can see all your transactions made by card, what do you do when you use cash or share a receipt with a friend? Receipts might seem old school, but they spell out exactly what you spent, where, and when—but they also get lost. That’s why spend tracking apps with built-in auto-scan features are so handy. Apps like Expense AI and YNAB let you take control of your finances, instantly scan receipts, and store them in a safe place.
These tools make it so that you don’t have to dig through your statements to consolidate spending in certain categories. Some even link directly to your cards or bank account, have tools especially helpful for small business owners, and even generate useful reports to get an overview of your monthly or yearly spend.
Simplify Bill Payments with the Automation Feature
If you’re still logging onto every platform and app to pay your bills each month, it’s time to stop that juggling act. Automating your bill payments is typically easy, and once it’s set up, you don’t have to think about it unless you switch providers or cards. Most service providers and banks will have auto-pay features that let you schedule recurring payments directly from your bank account or credit card. Internet and phone bills, streaming subscriptions, electricity bills, and rent can be put on autopilot, saving you all that manual effort you’ve been putting in.
There aren’t usually any third-party apps for this purpose because bill payments need to be directly authorized through a secure payment portal. Since we’re talking about financial transactions, security matters. No matter if you’re paying for a household expense or recreationally gambling online, you should always use a trusted method of payment. While you can delegate these routine chores, you also want to keep a healthy level of oversight to check that everything is running smoothly.
Manage Your Schedule with Calendar and Reminder Apps
Using a calendar or to-do app might sound like an obvious recommendation, but not many people know how to use them to their full potential. Many people spend tons of manual time entering details for every event or have them in standalone systems rather than consolidating them. Android and Apple ecosystems are perfect for managing schedules, as you can sync calendars and reminders across apps and devices to stay up to date with personal and social plans. Voice assistants can also add events and reminders hands-free, so you never miss an important date.
Prefer a third-party app? HEY Calendar brings analog calendar features like doodling and post-its and combines them with digital convenience. Looking for a shared calendar to coordinate family life? Cozi is your best bet, with shared lists, color coding, and activity tracking for every member.
Boost Your Workflow with Smart Shortcuts
Nothing is more time-consuming than repetitive tasks you do dozens of times a day. Maybe you have a morning routine where you open apps and programs in a specific order or constantly type out the same phrases and addresses. Smart shortcuts can make those tiny routines feel effortless. All it takes is a one-time setup, and you can divert all that newfound time toward something more meaningful.
iOS Shortcuts or Google Assistant Routines let you set up automation rules with triggers, like a “Work to Home” routine that texts your partner, starts a certain playlist, and starts your GPS. Meanwhile, features like text replacement can turn acronyms into full phrases, like “addr” into your full address. At the end of the day, it only makes sense to let your devices take over some of the “ugh” parts of your routine.
