I might be one of the least organized people in the entire world. I lose my keys constantly, I don’t own a single pair of matching socks, and I consistently try to go to Chic-Fil-A on Sundays. In short, I’m pathetic, and at age 20 I should be a lot better at “adulting” than I am. But that all changed this summer when I discovered the wondrous beauty that is free/cheap organization and productivity apps on my IPhone. I felt like Aladdin, because man, it was truly a whole new world. Long gone were the days of me only using my phone for the flattering Snapchat filters (my selfies have never looked so good,) or my petty self-keeping track of who followed and unfollowed me on Instagram. I am beyond that now. I have upgraded and transcended the frivolity of the IPhone and I have been thrust into a world of academic greatness, and I want you to join me. Strap on in folks, I’m about to rock your world (and your app store.)

1. myHomework - free

The myHomework app is one of the most incredible apps that you haven’t heard of yet. Do you get tired of carrying around a bulky paper planner? Or spending upwards of $20 on a fancy one that comes with special occasion stickers (as if that makes the price more reasonable)? Than this is the app for you. You can add your homework, tests, projects, and quizzes by individual class and the app will color code them and record them for you. It also allows you to set alerts when major deadlines are coming up, so you can finally break the cycle of all-nighters and nightmarishly stressful study sessions. This is an app that as soon as you download it, you won’t understand how you could have lived without it before.

2. Snap2PDF – $1.99 in the App Store

Now this app is for all of the productivity junkies out there (I’m right there with you). This might easily win the award for the most efficient app on this list, and is perfect solution to a cluttered desk. Simply take a picture of your papers and the app converts them to a pdf file that can be sorted into clusters based on the subject. This lets you take your notes anywhere without having to lug around heavy notebooks or fumble with flashcards. Also for anyone taking a language, the program can read and analyze the text on the page from a variety of languages and offer translations! While this app does not come free, it certainly is worth the investment.

3. RefMe or Easybib - Free

Normally, I wouldn’t combine two apps in a list like this, but I’m feeling generous. We all know the pain of working on a research paper and getting to the end and having to miserably put together a reference page. You were so close, but so far. This misery often leads to costly mistakes in your citations, but you never have to worry about those again with these two incredible apps. Simply scan the barcode of whatever book you are citing, and these apps will create the citation in whatever writing style is needed! This saves time and spares your patience on having to fix one simple little comma in a whole citation, and saves you from spending another two hours in the libs. (you’re welcome, world).

4. Remember the Milk – Free

My dad raised me on Lou Holtz’s philosophy of “WIN” or What’s Important Now, and that is premise of this app. This is like a to-do list on steroids, because Remember the Milk lets you organize tasks by day, priority, type, and more! Find yourself on campus with an hour to kill? You can look up your to-dos by proximity to where you are (via GPS) and get to work! The only catch is if you want to upload your entire life (aka you need massive amounts of storage) than you would need to upgrade to the premium version. I have normally stuck with the free version though, and not had any issues.

5. Un**** Your Habitat – Free

I definitely saved the best for last with this list, because I’m about to change your life. My favorite thing in the entire world is cursing, and my least favorite is cleaning, so if there is any way to make tidying up more accessible to someone with the mouth of a sailor like me then it’s definitely worth the investment. Formally, Unfilth Your Habitat, this app emphasizes the importance of small victories and tasks. This is one of the most accessible productivity apps out there because it actively works to promote inclusivity and to break the mold of the traditional “how to keep a home” molds. They say it better than I ever can when the founders of UfYH state:

“The important thing to remember is that there is nothing that can’t be unf*cked. You just have to do it. You just have to overcome the compulsion to sit on the couch, on the computer, watching TV, and get up and do something. Anything. So, Unf*ck Your Habitat is about lighting a fire under all of our asses. Because when we accomplish something, especially something that seemed impossible, it feels awesome.”

So, that’s awesome and you will be awesome if you check it out.

So there you have it folks, the apps that are going to change your life. More than anything though, even if you read through this entire thing and don't download a single app, just find something that works for you. Whether that is color coded sticky notes or writing messages on your arm, find a routine, get yourself comfortable, and make the best out of every moment. College is some of the best years of your life, don't ruin those moments by being stressed. It's not worth it, I promise. The days get easier, the assignments get shorter, and as long as you stay on top of what you need to do, you will graduate a better person for it.