We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post, which is at no additional cost to you. :)
Paula, at Simply Sandwich – Survival Skills for Sandwich Generation Moms, is as big a fan of multitasking as I am. It's definitely a necessity for most of us in the Sandwich Generation, isn't it? I enjoyed reading her article, Patching Up Time Leaks, written just for those of us juggling all the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for elderly parents, while raising children (Paula) or babysitting grandchildren (me), with many suggestions for making the best use of those moments we are "wasting," including times standing in line, waiting on the phone, and waiting for an appointment.
Some of the great tools I use to help me in just those types of moments all start with three simple words – my AT&T iPhone! With this tool, combined with some of the most useful iPhone apps available, my "wasted" time turns into positive and productive time – talk about great news for all of us busy boomers and seniors!
- Kindle (free app) – full of a ton of books – including many free Christian and business kindle books (I just downloaded a free copy of "When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances" by Carol J Kent. It's an awesome book on the surrendered life. Just be sure to check if it is still free – tho even if they're charging, it's well worth it! :) )
- Evernote – An AWESOME app that is totally free for your computer as well as "nearly every…phone and mobile device out there." In it, I have pdf files I need to read, my "to do list," favorite encouraging and comforting Bible verses, and the ability to add any kind of note I want!
- Calendar
- Contacts
- PocketBible
- Internet browser
- reQall – to record spoken reminders to myself when I am driving – they are transcribed and sent to my email AND my Evernote
- Dragon Search – to help me find phone numbers and addresses for FREE instead of spending the $5-15 I used to spend on 411 calls
- Fun iPhone games for the kids and grandkids – like our latest two – Angry Birds and Farmville – perfect when the grandkids
are waiting with you in line and getting REALLY bored (or antsy) 🙂
Nowadays, when I find myself waiting anywhere, I whip out my AT&T iPhone, see what the latest great and not so great news is, catch up on my email, check out Facebook, update my to do list, or research eldercare info by surfing the web. When I get into the doctor or other appointments, I have the calendar with me to schedule new appointments. I'm telling you, smartphones are WONDERFUL for all of us in the Sandwich Generation – and yes, I'm DEFINITELY partial to my sweet iPhone!
Optimized with PageSpeed Ninja
Gee….
I don’t have an i-phone. I just saw it as just another gimmick parting me from my money. After this post, all your nifty apps, I think I might be wrong. Maybe I do want an i-phone. 🙂
Have a beautiful day….
You are totally awesome Kaye! Thank you very much! Hugs, Paula
Hi Robin, You know, a friend spent months telling me how great the iPhone was and how she really thought it would be a big help for me. I kept saying no – too expensive, too big for my hand, too hard to do the keyboard, etc. But the area we live in is hard on reception and the Blackberry I was using that did work kept calling 911 from my purse. So I finally broke down and borrowed her older one for the 6 months left on my contract to “test drive” it. Oh my gracious! I NEVER went back. It’s basically like having a computer in my hand that occasionally masquerades as a phone. 🙂 It’s definitely slower than most computers BUT if’s faster than the first one we got back in the 80s! 🙂 And it can do WAY more than that first one – and even the second, third and fourth one. It’s such a blessing to a granny nanny or mom or anyone who is on the run a lot but still needs to stay productive in a variety of different ways. What I could have done with this when I was the field trip coordinator!!!! Or the home school coordinator!!!!! It’s truly been a blessing for me, that’s for sure. 🙂 And every day, they keep coming out with even more good apps for the iPhone, many of which I test out to see if they are worthy of my “most useful iPhone apps for the Sandwich Generation” List OR my “best iphone apps for grand kids” list. If you get an iPhone and find any great apps, do let us know 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Paula, you are very welcome 🙂 🙂 🙂 Have a blessed week! 🙂 🙂 🙂