Staying organized used to mean juggling a calendar, address book, and notepad all at once. However, over the past decade, substantial changes have occurred in productivity products. Now, numerous easy-to-use digital tools help you manage tasks and keep your day running smoothly without hassle. Whether older adults are handling household activities, keeping track of appointments, or finally diving into that passion project, there’s likely an app that can help. Senior Planet researched productivity apps that older adults can use to simplify their daily routines.

Note taking and Reminders

Google Keep: (Free)

Think of Google Keep as an all-in-one utility app. Downloaded over one million times, this versatile tool enables users to capture ideas on any device, create handy checklists, set important reminders, and record voice memos—all in one app. Add notes, lists, photos, and audio to Keep. Users can share content with anyone, and it’s free, making Google Keep the perfect companion for collaboration.

Never Miss a Pill Again

Medisafe: (Free or $4.99/Month)

Tracking medications can get tricky and dangerous—especially when you’re managing more than one prescription. Enter Medisafe. With over 10 million users and a 4.7-star rating, it’s an easy-to-use app that eliminates the guesswork. It sends personalized reminders and offers helpful features like:

• Medication tracking
• Notifications for caregivers
• Alerts for potential drug interactions
• Refill reminders
• Condition-specific tips and info

Developing Better Habits

Habitica (Free or $4.99/Month)

Habitica turns building good habits into a game. It’s easy. Set a goal, such as walking 30 minutes a day. Every time you complete the daily walk, you earn fun rewards like pretend gold, gear, or even magical pets. Habitica features a social chat function, allowing users to build teams as well. It’s a playful way to stay motivated, and with over 500,000 downloads, users find it helpful.

Manage Household Chores

Tody: (Free or $30/Year)

Tired of being unable to get a handle on household chores? Say goodbye to the chaos and turn your household chores into a manageable, low-stress routine. With over 1.4 million downloads and a 4.8 rating, Tody users can create personalized cleaning schedules, assign tasks to specific days, and track their progress. Using intuitive visual indicators instead of overwhelming lists, Tody reduces the mental clutter of home maintenance.

The All-in-One To-Do List

Any.do: (Free or $4.99/Month)

With over 40 million users, Any.do is a cross‑platform task and calendar manager, blending to-do lists, calendar views, reminders, “Moments” planning, and collaboration features.  This task management app helps users track everything from daily errands to long-term goals. Winner of both Google and Apple’s Editor’s Choice award, Any.Do allows users to create recurring tasks, set deadlines, easily sync their calendars, and use their voice for hands-free scheduling. It’s available for both mobile and desktop and  is a smart, all-in-one productivity tool to track and help you complete your tasks daily.

Let AI do It

IFTTT – (Free or $2.99/month)

Founded in 2010, IFTTT (If This Then That) brings automation into the mainstream and connects into more than 1,000 apps and devices (like Twitter, Dropbox, smart home tools) via “Applets.” (Basically, “If X happens, then do Y.”) You can track a stock by having an applet (their term for an automation) pull a closing stock and enter it into a spreadsheet, log weight or water intake in one of your health apps, or update your Facebook page automatically with no effort on your part.

Simple Tools, Everyday Impact

Older adults don’t have to be techies to harness real value from these apps. They’re easy to use and intuitively designed to take the pressure off—whether it’s managing medications, handling chores, or just bringing a little more order to your day. And best of all, they leave users with time for doing the things they actually enjoy.

YOUR TURN

What efficiency apps do you use – or wish existed?  Share your experience and ideas in the comments!

The content on the Senior Planet website is intended strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement or warranty regarding privacy, security, app permissions, or changes in the app’s terms of service. Please scrutinize each app’s privacy policy, terms of use, data collection or other permissions before downloading or using the app.

Deborah Reale is a digital marketing and communications consultant specializing in social media, analytics, content writing, and editing. Ms. Reale has written for Business Development Magazine, Construction Industry Today, and quoted in Investor’s Business Daily and the book Social Media in Action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a graduate degree in business administration.