Below are some things I use in everyday life that have made life so much more productive & so much easier! I’d recommend checking out everything I’ve listed.

If you’re aware of other things that could simplify my life of make it more productive, please leave your recommendations in the comment section!

Google Reader – Ever feel like there is way too much to read? Too many blogs, to many news articles, etc.? Google reader allows you to subscribe to RSS feeds and have all of your favorite news articles, blogs, etc. in one central place for you to read. If you’re not currently using this, you need to check it out!

Evernote – I just recently started using this, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite things in the world. It’s a place where you can draft, edit, organize, and file text documents, audio files, pictures, and pretty much anything else you can imagine! You’re able to organize everything by Tags and Notebooks. I’d highly recommend looking into this and all the things you’re able to do with it!

Hootsuite – This is where I take care of my social networking updates. It allows you to schedule Tweets/Facebook updates in advance. You can schedule updates as far out in advance as you’d like, so you don’t have to waste time during the day thinking of what to say, etc. There are plenty of other benefits, but I’d recommend using this tool!

IMapMyRide - If you’re a walker, runner, or a biker, you need to get this app or use this website. It will track all of your workouts, map out your runs, keep your heart rate, allow you to listen to your ipod while working out, and even has voice updates that tell you how far you’ve gone, etc. This makes working out so much more fun!

Tap & Track - This is what I use to track all of my calories. It’s only for the iPhone, but it’s so convenient! You can find pretty much any restaurants nutritional info in this app, pretty much any food from the grocery store, and what you can’t find, you can add. If you’re watching what you eat, this is a necessity! I love it!

Mint.com – The best free way to track all of your finances. This will create reports for you based on your spending, allow you to make financial goals, give you options as to where you’re money could be making more money for you, etc.

YouVersion – This is free online Bible software. By far the best out there! Want to read the Bible through in a year? No problem – YouVersion provides a ton of reading plans for you to choose from. They will track your progress, allow you to tag and make notes with the scriptures, share verses, and allow you to read any version you want. There are mobile versions available! Get in the Word!

iPhone – This goes without saying, but the iPhone has made life so much easier. All of the things I’ve listed above are all available on my phone. If you have one, I bet you’d agree that you can’t really remember what life was like when you didn’t have one! I don’t care what anybody says, no other phone comes close to the iPhone. I’d recommend getting one, it’s worth it.

Google Analytics - Want to track traffic for your website? This is the best way! You’ll be able to find out pretty much anything you want to about who comes to your website, how many times, what they look at, etc. This is very helpful to see whether or not your website is effective, what articles interest people, etc. If you have a website and you’re not using this, you need to be.

Google Apps -  I use this to e-mail my ministry teams, share documents with them, share to do lists with them, create online sign-ups and track them, share calendars, have online team meetings, etc. I’d highly recommend getting your organization hooked up with the apps, especially if you’re a non-profit!

I love the iPhone so I thought I’d share some of my favorite apps, in hopes that you’ll share yours with me! Here they are:

Awesome Note - I just got this one recently! I track my to-do’s on this as well as use it for taking notes in meetings, in church, etc. I love the filing system it has in it as well!

Holy Bible – I love this app by Lifechurch.tv! It’s free and you can read any version you want! I use YouVersion for my devotions, you can follow several different Bible Reading plans with this app. A must have!

Mint.Com - I use mint.com to track all of my finances! I absolutely love it. The iphone app just shows you the summaries of what you’ve spent and have coming in, and will alert you when bills are coming up or your checking account is low.

Facebook- This one is pretty obvious…

PS Mobile - Photoshop for the iphone! Awesome for editing pictures!

Echofon - My twitter app of choice for the iPhone.

X3Watch – You have to have accountability even on your phone these days! This is a browser that will e-mail my accountability partners if I look at any sites I shouldn’t be looking at. A must have!

TwitVid – Uploads videos to Twitter from your phone! Love it!

ImapMyRide – I love this app for when I go running! It keeps track of everything – pace, distance, etc. It records you’re route on a map, records all of your runs, allows you to listen to your ipod while running…I could go on and on! A must have for runners, bikers, walkers…

Analytics Pro - I use google analytics to track my traffic on my websites. I got this at the recommendation of Michael Hyatt. I absolutely love it – it’s better than using Analytics on my computer.

Google - Quick links to all of my Google Apps! I mainly use this for Google Reader!

Flixster - I’m a big movie buff! This shows you whats playing, trailors, upcoming movies, and tons of other things!

Around Me - I love this app for when I travel. Pull it up, click on coffee shops, and itll show you every coffee shop within a mile of you, grocery shops, restaurants, etc.

Sportstacular – My sports app of choice. It has everything I need – live scores and standings! Love it!

What are some of your favorite apps? What apps do I need to download?

¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. – Colossians 3:17

Yesterday I covered how Social Media could ruin your life, today I want to focus on how it could benefit your life, in addition to changing the world.

Social Media Can Inspire the World – People often downplay tweeting inspirational quotes – does it really matter? Well, all quotes can do is inspire someone. When the inspiration turns to action – it makes a huge difference. My take: inspire as often as possible – you never know who you’re inspiring and what will happen if they act on that inspiration.

Social Media Can Encourage the World- Everybody needs encouragement. Social media provides an avenue to encourage everyone often.  Encourage everybody you can!

Social Media Makes the World a Better Place – Again, it comes down to who is using it. But what if we’re always encouraging and inspiring people with what we do through social media? You can’t tell me the world wouldn’t be a better place!

Social Media Can Expand Your Influence – You have an opportunity to build your reputation and increase your influence for good or bad with everything you do through social media. Build a great platform – I recommend reading Michael Hyatt’s Blog – he is a master at this. He posted about building your online platform here.

Social Media Can Cause Your Product or Business to Thrive - If you’re consistent and continue to provide products, ideas, inspiration, and encouragement that will benefit others, word will spread and you’ll benefit.

Social Media Can Spread Your Message around the World - What are you passionate about? What is the one message you want to communicate to the world? For me, I want people to know that the best life they could ever live is passionately living for God everyday. Everything I do is to spread that message. If it’s a message worth spreading, it will get around!

What am I missing? What other ways are social media beneficial?