If you're anything like me, you can't go anywhere without your phone. I don't just mean I won't leave my phone at home while I go shopping or out for dinner, I mean I'll bring it with me even if I'm just going to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.
It's not that I'm expecting a constant barrage of texts or emails or hilarious social media updates. It's that I've curated a collection of apps that help my life immeasurably and never know when I might need them. With a job at Salesforce that has me travelling between Toronto and Silicon Valley fairly frequently, I've come to rely on a few choice apps that save me time, money, give me peace of mind and increase my productivity regardless of where I am. Who'd want to leave these behind?
Uber. While it's controversial in some places and with some people, knowing that I can tap on this app and get to my meeting across the city quickly is a huge relief, whether I'm home or in another location on business. And not having to scrounge for cash or contend with credit card machine connection problems (and there are always connection problems) simply saves me time and stress.
7 Minute Workout Challenge. I always have the best intentions to get to the gym, but some days just don't allow for it - especially if I'm travelling. My doctor actually tipped me off to the 7 Minute Workout Challenge, which packs 12 high impact exercises performed for 30 seconds with 10 second rest intervals into seven minutes. They don't require equipment, they're simple to perform and can be done anywhere, killing any excuses you might throw down. Plus, it's Apple Watch supported.
Podcasts. For those moments when you want to drown out the rest of the world - for me, it's riding on the subway, sitting in traffic, or waiting for a flight. With hundreds of thousands of podcasts on innumerable topics - politics, art, business, sports, music, comedy, news, books, just to name a few - I can fill what feels like wasted time with learning something new.
OpenTable. This is one of those innovations that would have been a dream back in the days of cracking open the phone book and calling different restaurants to book a reservation. I frequently use OpenTable when I'm travelling, taking care of my meals out with ease. Filters let you choose neighbourhoods, cuisine and price point, and the app lets you rate the restaurant once the meal is finished.
Waze. Even with podcasts at my fingertips, I can't stand being stuck in traffic. Waze is a great, turn-by-turn GPS navigation app that provides real time traffic updates - by other people using the app. Listing everything from traffic jams to road closures to speed traps, Waze doesn't just gets you from A to B, it gets you there faster by helping choose the least clogged-up routes.
I've got most of my business-related apps covered off, thanks to AppExchange, but from a lifestyle perspective these apps help keep me sane while on the go.
Once you've got these apps installed, they do a lot of the work for you, but it's up to you to remember to pack your phone charger.
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