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Let's be real—being a single mom means you're basically a one-woman show.
You're juggling work, school drop-offs, meal planning, house chores, appointments, and about a hundred million other things all at once. Some days, it can feel like there just aren't enough hours to get it all done.
What I have personally found is the use of productivity apps to help free up some space in my brain so I can focus on the really important things. These productivity apps are lifesavers and can help you stay on top of your everyday schedule, manage your to-do list, remember appointments, track your budget, and even make sure you don't forget to pay your bills. These apps help you stay organized and keep all the moving pieces in your life in one place.
So if you want to get organized, save time, or just make your life a little less stressful, having the right kind of apps can make a huge difference.
Let’s talk about how these apps can make life easier and which ones are actually worth using.
What are Productivity Apps
You can think of productivity apps as your digital assistants that help keep you on track with certain things.
They are tools that help you manage your time and things that need to get done better. They help remind you what and when things need to be done, help you plan your day, and make sure nothing important is forgotten (like that school permission slip you swore you'd sign last night!)
Some apps help you with scheduling, some with budgeting, and others with keeping track of your everyday tasks like meal planning or grocery shopping.
The thing is, once you start using them, you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.
For single moms, having apps that can do all this are not only lifesavers, but they take some of the mental load off, so you don't have to keep every single thing in your head all the time.
How Productivity Apps Can Help Single Moms
If you've ever wished for an extra pair of hands (or an extra hour or two in a day), a good productivity app might be the next best thing.
Here are some of how productivity apps can help enhance your everyday life.
Keep track of your schedule – No more missed appointments or double booking yourself.
Help with to-do lists – Because let’s be honest, letting your brain remember everything doesn't work.
Remind you of important stuff – Like bills, school deadlines, or even just drinking water.
Make meal planning easier – Because figuring out what’s for dinner every night is so exhausting.
Manage your money – So you know exactly where your paycheck is going.
Cut down on stress – When things are organized, life just feels a little bit easier.
Now, let’s look at some of the best productivity apps that can help with all of this.
The Best Productivity Apps For Single Moms
I've broken these down into different areas because, as a working single mom, we don't just need help with one thing—we need help with everything!
Productivity Apps for Scheduling and Calendar Management
Keeping track of appointments, school events, and work meetings can be overwhelming. These apps help you stay on top of your schedule.
Google Calendar (Free)
Google Calendar is one of those apps that will just make your life easier. It's simple, easy to use, and syncs with all your devices, so you can check your schedule anytime, anywhere. One of the better parts of it is you can color-code events, which can be a lifesaver when you're juggling a lot of different things like work, school activities, after-school activities, doctor's appointments, and everything in between.
You can even share calendars with your kids, co-parent, or other family members, so everybody's on the same page. No more last-minute surprises or double bookings. It just helps add a little bit of calm to the chaos.
Productivity Apps for Managing Tasks and To-Do Lists
Trying to keep track of everything you need to do in your head is a recipe for disaster. These apps help you stay organized.
Todoist (Free with a Pro version at $4/month for additional features)
Todoist is a powerful to-do list app that can help you organize your tasks and any projects you have better. You can set due dates, prioritize tasks, and even break bigger tasks into smaller subtasks.
It's a great app for keeping track of everything from work deadlines to your kids' school projects. The app also lets you collaborate with other people, so it's perfect if you're sharing these responsibilities with a co-parent or a family member.
Trello (Free with paid plans starting at $5/moth for advanced features)
Trello is like having a digital bulletin board at your fingertips. You can create boards for different subjects, like meal planning, school activities, or work, and add cards that include what exactly needs to be done for each task.
You can also assign tasks if something needs to be delegated. It's visual, easy to use, and great for staying on top of the hundreds of things you have to do.
Productivity Apps for Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping
Figuring out what's for dinner every night can sometimes be downright exhausting especially if you've been doing it for many years now, but these apps can make it a bit easier!
Mealime (Free with a Pro version at $2.99/month for additional recipes and features)
If you're anything like me and don't have time to spend hours planning and actually cooking the meal itself, then Mealime is a great app to have.
You'll have to create your profile, and add in your food preferences—especially if you're a vegan, have kids who are gluten or lactose intolerant, or just have some really picky eaters on your hand. Feeding the app with as much information lets it come up with a list of recipes that are tailored to you and your kids. And the best part? All the recipes can be cooked in 30 minutes!
Once you've chosen the meals you want to have for the week, Mealime will come up with a shopping list based on your meal choices which can then be easily imported to Amazon Fresh or Instacart for delivery, so you don't have to go through the hassle of going to the grocery store. It doesn't get any easier than that!
Out of Milk (Free)
Out of Milk is a really simple app that helps you create and manage your shopping lists. You can track your household items here and set reminders for when you're running low on essentials. It's straightforward and easy to use perfect for when you're juggling so many things.
The other great thing about this app is can sync with other devices so even when your kids need things from the store they can easily include them in this one master list.
Paprika Recipe Manager ($4.99 for the app, with optional cloud sync for $1.99/month)
Paprika is probably one of those apps that's basically like a cooking assistant. It won't cook the dishes for you but it's an incredible help where cooking and shopping is concerned.
It's a one-stop app helping you save recipes from the web, plan your meals for the week, and generate a grocery list with only just a few taps. It even scales recipes for you depending on how many people you're cooking for. It also includes a pantry feature so you can keep track of what you already have at home.
It is a bit of an upfront cost, but worth it if you're serious about meal planning, it'll change how you plan, shop, and cook!
Productivity Apps for Budgeting and Money Management
Keeping track of money can be stressful, but these apps help you stay on top of your finances.
Mint (Free)
Mint is a great app for budgeting. It connects to your bank accounts, tracks your spending, and helps you budget towards those goals you've set for yourselves. It even reminds you when your bills are due so you never again forget to.
It's a simple way to stay on top of your finances without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, it's free, so it's a great option if you're on a tight budget.
YNAB—You Need A Budget ($14.99/month or $99/year, with a 34-day free trial)
If you're looking for a budgeting app that does more than just track your expenses, YNAB is one of the best options.
Between bills, groceries, kids' activities, and unexpected expenses (because let's face it, there's always something), constantly having to keep track of where all your money is going isn't easy.
Unlike other budgeting apps that just track your spending, YNAB helps you be proactive with your money. So instead of looking at what you've already spent, it helps you decide how to spend your money before you even touch it. With the correct direction, you not only track your spending but you'll be able to religiously save money and pay off any debt you might have.
It's pricey but it more than pays for itself with the amount of money it will help you save. You can give the free trial a shot and see if it helps you feel more in control of your money.
Productivity Apps for Household Chores and Organization
Running your home by yourself is no small feat, and definitely not a joke. These productivity apps can help you with your daily chores.
OurHome (Free)
OurHome is a handy app for keeping track of your household chores, especially if you want to get kids fully involved with chores. Instead of having to constantly remind them to clean their rooms or take out the trash, you can set up tasks in the app, assign them to your kids, and even add rewards to keep them motivated. It turns the dreaded chores into a bit of a game if you will. You can also track their progress, so there are no 'I forgot' excuses.
It's totally free, so if it helps make life a little easier at home, why not just try it out!
Tody (Free with a premium version at $6.99 for additional features)
Tody is also an app that helps you stay on top of your household chores. Instead of having a never-ending to-do list, it breaks your chores into smaller manageable sections. You are able to set up different cleaning routines based on what needs to be done and how often it needs to be done—daily, weekly, monthly, or even seasonally.
Not only that—it also tracks when you last cleaned something (say, your bedsheets for instance) and reminds you when it's time to do it again so you never have to wonder when you last washed your sheets again, it'll do it for you!
Through the app, you can also assign certain tasks to your kids so they too can be involved in keeping your home clean and organized.
As a single mom, we all need some help sometimes, and these productivity apps can help take some of the pressure off.
Whether it's keeping track of your family schedule, tackling your to-do lists, planning meals, or managing your money, there's an app that can help. Try a few and see what works for you—because anything that makes life even a little easier, is worth it.
At the end of the day, it's not about doing everything perfectly. It's about making things manageable so you have more time and energy for what truly matters.
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