5 Apps That Will Simplify Your Workday

August 13, 2015

As of last month, there were approximately 1.5 million apps on sale in Apple’s App Store, making it pretty much impossible to cut through the noise to determine which of these technological shortcuts will actually benefit our lives and simplify our workdays.

Good news: We did the work for you. Below are five apps that will keep you informed, organized, and focused throughout the workweek.

NYTNow

Today, newshounds are fortunate to have hundreds of thousands of outlets at their fingertips. Round-ups of the day’s stories flood inboxes before the sun rises. But which are going to provide the need-to-know stories of the day—the stories that drive the conversation in the office and make readers feel informed? Enter the NYTNow app, a continually updated list of must-reads from around the web, curated by the second-to-none New York Times. Consider it all the news that’s fit to print, but condensed.

Todoist

The key to simplification is organization, and every organized woman has a to-do list on hand. Todoist allows users to sync their lists on multiple devices, while providing a clean, easy-to-read format. The app sends email reminders for daily duties, and all lists can be archived for future reference. Then there’s the fun part: Each endeavor can be checked off with one gratifying click.

TripIt Travel Organizer

If you’re drowning in paper at work, the last thing you want to do is to shuffle through files looking for a boarding pass while running late for a flight. Enter TripIt, which consolidates all travel needs into one app. Once the travel itinerary is forwarded to the app, it creates a master itinerary for the trip—whether it’s for 24 hours or 24 days—and stores your travel documents. And for $4.09 a month, users can receive real-time flight alerts, find out if a better seat with more legroom is available, or locate alternate flights when theirs has been cancelled.

Transit App

Ah, the joy of the daily commute! With Transit App, there’s no need to sit in traffic or idly wait for the train to arrive. The app uses your location to find all nearby transportation options, departure times, and estimated arrival times so you won’t be caught off guard if the L train breaks down (again). And Transit App isn’t just for those living in New York or San Francisco—it’s up and running in 101 metro areas.

Slice

You’ve ordered a new computer from Apple for your office, groceries from Amazon Prime for your apartment, and a dress from MM.LaFleur for your big presentation with the CEO Tuesday morning. And yet, you have no idea when any of these packages will show up at your doorstep. Slice helps you organize your online purchases by picking up tracking numbers in your email following checkout. Need to return something? The app keeps track of all your receipts in one easy-to-find location. And perhaps its best feature: Slice will alert you if an item you purchased goes on sale, allowing you to jump on deals as they come up.