I wanted to have a little fun on this week's blog post and share the apps that I use to help me stay accountable. And when I say me, it is also our family. I have mixed feelings about technology and social media these days, but in some cases technology is actually helpful and instead of being a time suck, actually helps you save time!

Accountability Apps to Get More Done and Save Time

I am obsessed with my Apple watch so let's just start there. I was SO nervous to get one because I turn off ALL notifications on my phone except for an actual phone call. Which does anyone ever call anyone anymore? My point is I didn't want to add technology that just buzzed every five seconds because I get super distracted. I have the patience of a gnat so as soon as something goes ding, I am immediately looking at what it is.

I embraced the Apple watch though and the technology it delivered through the apps that actually supported the lifestyle that I was and am trying to build. Here is what I use on a daily basis.

The accountability apps at a glance

Here is a quick look at the apps I lean on, and what each one actually helps you do.

What I use Daily

1. Calm App

   I wake up every am and hit play on the Daily Jay. If you didn't know, Jay Shetty is Calm's Chief Calm Officer, I mean what a cool title. Every day he has a 7-minute story and mediation. I am still working on mediation but I hit play and get dressed and brush my teeth. Easy peasy. No scrolling involved.
   

2. Stop Watch

   
   The second most common app I use is the stopwatch. I am not kidding I use it every day like five times a day. I time block everything and in order to stay in the windows I planned, I set timers. Write a podcast. Set a timer for 30 minutes. Check Instagram. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Girls need to clean up. Give them a 10-minute timer. You get the idea but creating mini deadlines for yourself is SO powerful. You will always get done exactly what you need to in the time you give yourself. So if you know you can get something done in an hour let's say, try setting a timer for 30 minutes. You may have just saved yourself some extra time.
   
   

3. I Am Affirmations

   Back to my morning routine, I actually use two affirmation apps. The first one is Think Up. I record affirmations of me speaking (it sounds weird but is super cool) and play it when I am downstairs making tea, emptying the dishwasher, and doing my morning chores. I am not great at writing affirmations but hearing them every morning has been super productive. When you pair it with the Calm app, your morning is super motivational and you really don't have to do anything but hit play.
   
   I also love the "I am Affirmations" app as it sycns with the Apple Watch. The I Am Affirmations app gives you affirmations 4-5 times a day at random times. And they are good ones. So it might be 10am and then this amazing affirmation that says "I attract amazing abundance in my life" pops up and you are like YES! Yes, I do! You can also save your favorites and go back and read them. Some of my favorites are...
   • I release all negative thoughts and welcome happiness
   • I am more than my anxiety
   • I can easily manifest any goal I have for myself
   • I am thankful for my strong, healthy relationship with money
   • I have the motivation to create change in my life
   • I release anything that doesn't serve me
   You get the idea. But it is a powerful little tool.
   
   

4. Flo (cycle tracker)

   
   The next app I use almost daily is the Flo app which tracks your cycle. I wish I had this in my 20's because I feel like I am SO much more educated about my cycle these days. I suffer from extreme migraines which typically happen the same day of every month or around the same time. I started tracking my cycle so I could better control them. It also helps me understand my feelings from a business perspective. If I am in my luteal or ovulation phase, I tend to have much more energy and be creative. In the other phases, I start to question everything. And while I do think it is good to question everything, I also think being mindful of the phase your body is in will help you make better decisions and honor where you are at.
   
   Do you love these tips? Take the Productivity Personality Quiz to get a Netflix-style binge-worthy resource list to help you find your focus and is customized to you! Take the quiz here.
   

5. Hello Fresh / Daily Harvest

   
   Weekly we use the Hello Fresh and Daily Harvest app. I assure you this is not sponsored but it should be. We do Hello Fresh about once a month in our house just to change up the recipes and give me a little extra time (i.e. I am not planning meals for one week). I also use Daily Harvest for smoothies. I am seriously obsessed. I have a really hard time creating healthy lunches as I tend to work when the girls are at school, So daily harvest has been great to to create smoothies for lunch with some added protein. The apps make it super easy to track and every Sunday I just log in, check the meals and done. Instant times saver.
   
   

6. Paired

   
   The next app I love, I actually learned from my Jenna Kutcher interview and that's the "paired" app. My husband and I use it to answer questions about our relationship and if I am being honest, talk about things we normally would skip right past. It has fun quizzes you can take about each other and ways to ask each other how one is feeling without being stressful. Since leaving corporate, our relationship is something we have tried to prioritize more and this has been a super fun way to do it.

Last but not least is our Crush the Rush Club.

We run it in a software called Kajabi which has an app you can download for your phone. Inside our club you get daily access to me and our team to ask questions and review materials, weekly LIVE Q&A (i.e. I am the coach in your backpocket), and the entire vault of training, which is like the MBA of business you never knew you needed accessible anytime you need it. And because we preach productivity and strategy together, most of our members save up to 20+ hours of time in their first quarter. How's that for a time saving app?

Our club membership is currently open. You can join and download the app here!

I hope a peek into how we use technology was helpful. I'd love to know what apps you use and how you use them. Jump into the DMs and let me know. Maybe there are some new ones I should add in my daily rotation!

Looking for more on this topic and your High-Level Action items? Check out the Strategy Lab in the Crush the Rush Club!

Frequently asked questions

What is an accountability app?

An accountability app is any tool that helps you follow through on what you set out to do, whether by tracking a habit, timing your focus, reminding you of your goals, or connecting you with a coach or community. The best ones are the ones you will actually use. Instead of adding noise, they quietly keep you on track, like a timer that holds you to a deadline or a membership that puts a coach in your back pocket.

What are the best accountability apps to stay focused?

A few favorites that support focus and follow-through: Calm for a quick morning reset, the plain stopwatch or timer for time blocking, affirmation apps like Think Up and I Am Affirmations, Flo for cycle and energy awareness, Hello Fresh and Daily Harvest to save meal-planning time, and Paired for relationship check-ins. The Crush the Rush Club app pulls coaching and training into one place too.

How do timers help you stay focused and save time?

Timers turn vague intentions into mini deadlines. When you time block your day and set a timer for each task, you tend to finish in the window you gave yourself. A simple trick is to set the timer shorter than you think you need, so if a task would normally take an hour, try 30 minutes and watch how much time you save.

Can technology actually help productivity instead of distracting you?

Yes, when you choose it intentionally. The key is selecting apps that support the routine and life you are trying to build rather than ones that buzz at you all day. Turn off unnecessary notifications and keep only the tools that save you time or help you feel grounded, and technology becomes an asset instead of a time suck.

Keep reading

Start with the full guide: How to Run Your Business in Part-Time Hours.

If this one helped, here is where to go next:

• How to Find 2 Extra Hours in Your Day
• How to Identify the High-Impact Activities Growing Your Business
• 5 Sunday Habits That Set You Up for a Productive Week

Want a business that runs in 8 to 10 hours a week?
That is exactly what we map out in CEO Week, my free training on running your whole business in part-time hours, no social media required. Come join us.

Not sure what to focus on next? Take the quiz and I will point you to your next move.