Shopping on iTunes is so much fun!  All those pretty little apps are so enticing.  You don’t just buy music there anymore or even just music & books.  There are games, trivia, navigation, education, catalogues, finance, food, movies, social media and more.  iTunes currently has 23 different categories from which to choose an app!

Each app can be extremely helpful.  They give you access to information on the spot, tell you what to do next, track what you wear, remind you of the wine you’ve been wanting to try, tell you if a storm is approaching and so much more.

And when you’re feeling like the women in the picture above, you turn to the productivity apps because they ensure your life will be easier if you will just add them to your phone.  They are very hard to resist.  But they are helpful. …. one at a time.  Meaning what?

Downloading is so easy we typically download several at once.  That means, you have several apps to learn & build a habit using at the same time.  Just because you successfully achieved steps 1 & 2 – researching & selecting – doesn’t mean you will be successful with steps 3 & 4 – learning & using.

So how can you achieve steps 3 & 4?

1.Give yourself a little bit of time to figure out the new app.  Maybe 30 minutes uninterrupted to learn, explore & test.

2.Determine how you will want to use the app.  Just because it has a lot of features does not mean you want to use each one or in the method they describe.  What works best for you?

3.Set reminders through your day to use the new app.  It will take 21 days to create the habit of actually using the app on a daily basis.  Allow time in your day for that habit to form.

If you will do these 3 things after downloading a new app, you’ll be amazed at just how much that app really improves your life.  Tell us about your favorite app at the Styled & Organized Living Facebook page