Keeping track of information can be an entire job in and of itself. From meeting minutes to grocery lists, the amount of stuff you have to keep organized throughout the course of a single day can be overwhelming. That’s why having the right note-taking tools at the ready is vital to making your life manageable, both inside and outside the office.
So, to make all of our lives easier, I found some of the most perfect apps to serve every need. The best part? They’re all free.
1. If You Want Something Straightforward: Simplenote
This is the perfect tool for pen-and-paper type of note-takers who just want a consistent place to jot down their thoughts. If you need an easy place to keep ideas straight, this app can handle it all—without giving you the headache of navigating through any extra bells and whistles. Available for Android, iOS, Mac, and PC, Simplenote’s easy to use whether you’re at your desk or on the go.
2. If You Take Robust Notes: Evernote
Evernote keeps track of everything you need with detail, from long-form text to multimedia notes—and organizes things categorically. The platform is meant to handle information as complex as your life is, allowing you to keep different projects within separate working notebooks. It’s available for free, able to streamline across many different devices, and comes with added benefits for a Premium plan, which includes features for PDFs and business cards, as well.
3. If You Share With Others: Google Docs
This one can handle all the note-taking essentials when you have multiple contributors. The best part is it doesn’t require that your other team members download the same program—anyone can use it right in her web browser. Google Docs is a classic for a reason: It’s straightforward, universally accessible, and does its job well.
4. If You Use Apple Products: Notes
Lover of Apple products? Then you’ve probably heard about this built-in application. If you’ve tried it and knocked it before, definitely give it another shot—it’s received a robust upgrade this year across Apple’s new operating systems. If you’re the type of person who’s on-the-go enough to need your information streamlined across all of your devices, this is the tool for you.
5. If You Have to Stay Focused
Dayboard is the Google Chrome extension for you if you’re someone who just needs to buckle down and concentrate on your work. Every time you open a new tab, this application will be there to record your daily tasks and ensure you focus on them. The clean, chic design de-clutters your browser, so distractions won’t get in your way.
What’s your favorite app to keep your life together? Tweet me @caroqliu and let me know!