Sometimes, you just need a helping hand. What with juggling 24744859595 billion things, it can actually be nice to use technology to help you out. These are some of our favourite tricks, tips and apps to get you through it. We hope you find them as useful as we have!
Cook twice as much, half as often!
Double batch family meals, specially wintery ones that freeze well. It’s a saviour when things are going pear shaped.
Storing the “artworks”
Some of your kids’ artwork really is wonderful. Frame it. But most… well… you can’t keep everything.
I have an A3 box for each child to put the special things in, class photos, paint foot prints etc. For the other artworks or huge ones, I take a photo with my phone and add it to the digital photo album for that year.
Tape record the doctor
I become a space cadet as soon as I take my kid into the doctor. They rattle off a whole lot of instructions and my brain turns to mushy peas. So, with the doctor’s permission, I tape her advice and I also write the instructions on my phone. When family members quiz me at home, I can listen again.
File everything in categories in Evernote.
By child, by dream destination, by anything – everything goes into a file – pictures, notes, files etc.
Closed Facebook groups
As invaluable as google when looking for answers. Closed mums groups like Mums the Word (eastern subs of Sydney), Inner West Mums, North Shore Mums let you post to mums in the area and get instant advice from women from issues varying from “where can I get a geisha costume by tonight” to “what can I get my 85 year old father in law from the gang?” Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine is my go-to for support and advice for women’s small businesses
Create a ‘month map’
This is where you can create an online guide to what will be happening for you that month. You can use this to write your goals, plan events and even your finances. Then each month, you’ll be prepared in advance for anything coming your way! Create one on Google Drive and you can simply change the details, but use the same template each month.
Ordering online.
Anything that I can organize from my phone/computer (ideally in bed or at the traffic lights) – online groceries, online fruit and veg (HarrisFarm), online kids clothes (Cotton On / Target / Pavement),
To do lists
Let’s be honest, no to do list is perfect (ie it doesn’t pick up the dry cleaning for you) but it’s a start to stop the sleep preventing panic attack at 4am. There are super techy ones that remind you when you’re near the place it relates to (Remember the Milk) but I find the simpler the better. Fave of the moment is Wunderlist. I love that it gives a back patting little chime of congratulations as you tick something off the list. Confession time: I have been known to add things that weren’t on the list that I’ve done just so I can cross them off. Anyone else do this?
Signing and scanning via phone
I take photos with my phone of everything. It’s my brain’s external memory. Recipes in waiting rooms, forms signed and emailed back. You name it.
Tiny scanner makes scan grade versions of forms and Docusign lets you fill out forms and add your signature. Cool huh!
(Thanks Rachel Setti for both of these)
Talk to yourself
Sometimes I find the best way to remember things, is by leaving myself notes. I love to do this by talking to myself and leaving myself notes via Italk. You can then play these back at any time!
iTalk for iPhone and similar for Android.
Ali & Julie
Some of us have dreamed of working remotely all our adult lives. For others, the pandemic offered no other choice but to make the transition.
Regardless of which group you fell