What is the most used app on your device? Most people would more than likely respond their email, or some kind of social media. Mine is hands down the Notes App. Probably because I use it in so many ways. I’d love to share just some of the ways I use Notes and hope you find some new ways to use this albeit basic, but highly functional App.

1. Gratitude list. I like to write 5 things I’m grateful for each day. And I’d like to thank Oprah. I remember sitting on my couch in high school and hearing her suggest doing this on paper. I don’t always have pen and paper, but I always have my phone on me. I set a reminder to add to my gratitude list each night before I go to bed. Doing it right before bed helps ensure the last thoughts I have before drifting off are good ones.
2. Things to do at work. I don’t do well with just one overall to do list for the day. One of the best choices I ever made was to make my home and work to do lists separate. And when you make yours, use the clickable bullets function. It’s so satisfying to click each item and watch it drop to the bottom of the list as day goes on. Anything not done on any given day just gets bumped to the next day.
3. Positive quotes list. I keep two of these – one for daily quotes that I share with my students and one for me personally. This is one of my favorite and most frequently used notes!
4. Appointments. This is a list of appointments to make, and appointments I’ve already made, with dates for myself and my children. I only recently started this list but it’s so nice to see everything in one place, broken down by month and household member. Organized by month, I look at and update this list for each family member. It’s nice to see the month at a glance, and to be mindful of appointments coming up and those that need to be scheduled. Obviously these go on the calendar, but having them all listed in one location has also really helped me to make sure everyone gets their basic appointments scheduled on the regular.
5. Keeping me up list. FAVORITE. I started this note at the recommendation of my therapist and I use it almost nightly. This is one to use when you can’t go to sleep and can’t seem to shut your brain off. I am not sure why this works, but typing my concerns and the things that are keeping me up allows me to go right back to sleep. It’s like I’m releasing them onto the note and letting go of them. 100% recommend!
6. Books. This is a really long list for me! I see books all the time at the bookstore or have friends recommend books to me. I will not remember the title unless I write it down. I keep books my kids want to read on this list too, under their name as a separate category. It’s bulleted so I can click them as we read them. We are a public library family so I will always see if the book is at the library before I buy it. We have tried being Kindle readers but all love that tangible book experience. I need to turn pages!
7. Packing list. I keep several packing list notes. One for the beach, one for winter travel, and one for camping. After years of reinventing the wheel, I love having these master packing lists to build from. Huge time saver.
8. Supplements. This is an odd one, but I am huge on taking supplements. Everytime I run out of a supplement or someone recommends one to me, I enter it here. I believe that we can either care for and nourish our bodies now, or we will medicate them for ailments later. Prevent instead of treat!
9. Grocery list. This one is on-going, and focused on the perimeter of the store (that’s where the healthy foods are). One of my favorite parts of this list is a subcategory I added which is meal ideas. It really helps to think about meal ideas as a whole when you are shopping. I make it bulleted as well, but it doesn’t have to be.
10. Movies and Shows. This one stays at the top of my Notes, because friends, family members, coworkers and podcast hosts are always recommending shows and movies! I will not remember what they tell me if I don’t write it down! It’s so great to pull up this list when we feel like there is “nothing to watch.”
11. Things to Cancel. This list has saved our family more money than any decision I’ve made in the past year. I made this list of all of our subscriptions and expenses on paper, then highlighted the ones we could do without or cut back on. It ended up being a list of 11 different things to cancel including: Hulu, one of our cars paid off, lower phone bill (cut by almost $100 a month just by asking), Amazon Prime video, Amazon Freetime, Amazon Music, and I cut out a redundant life insurance policy. If we aren’t using it, it’s getting cut!
12. Birthday wishlists/Christmas wishlists. I keep these for my husband and each of my kids and they help so much with gathering ideas and making sure to get everyone exactly what their hearts desire. I start my list a couple of months before Christmas or their birthday month.
13. Bucket lists. These are some of my favorite lists to make! I keep one for summer, spring break, fall break and Christmas break. I keep a lifetime one as well. So fun to check off so make it bulleted.
14. Things I didn’t know I wanted. You may be familiar with the Instagram reels called “Things I didn’t know I needed off of Amazon.” I created my own personal list of things I didn’t know I wanted and it has been the most fun! It has become one of my favorite lists. When someone asks me for a gift idea for my birthday, Christmas, teacher appreciate or any other gift giving holiday I will often pull something from this list!
15. Prayers. This is a special note where I put prayers I love to pray over our family, each specific child and family member, over our finances, our health and more. Some I have found and copy/pasted, and others I have just authentically written myself but want them on repeat.
16. Repairs. I have a list of household and car repairs or maintenance that need to be made. I make it bulleted and clickable, not only for when they are completed, but also to help rank order their importance. I can click and then unclick to bump minor repairs to the bottom of the list.
17. Passwords. This one is a bit controversial, and some may consider it risky, but I need quick and easy access to many passwords. Not only for myself, but for my children. I keep a list for their school accounts as well as their personal use.
18. Food and wine. This is a fun one. I keep a list of restaurants to try and wine recommendations. Once I find a food or wine I love, I bump it to the bottom (so make the list clickable) and put a star emoji beside it. It enjoy returning to restaurants and wines I love almost as much as trying new ones.
19. Triggers. You will find that most of my lists are positive, but this one strangely may be the most beneficial and here’s why. When you know our triggers and are aware of the things that stress you out, you can put things in place to limit those stressor. For example, being late, crowds and traffic are high on my list. I have put things in place to minimize each of them. I’m not late as often because I strive to arrive early. I avoid crowds by going to the store at less crowded times and I take back roads to avoid traffic.
20. Writing topics. This list is a must for any blogger or writer. Anytime a topic comes to mind, if I feel strongly about a subject, or feel I am an authority on a certain subject, I add it to this list. Even if you aren’t writer, you might consider keeping a journal and having a list of topics for your journal. Journaling is such a beneficial way to get your thoughts and feelings out and to release strong emotions. It can help you process and problem solve in a way that just pondering can’t.

I hope you have found some useful ideas within this list of lists! I would love to know your favorite, or if you have found any great uses for the Notes app that I didn’t mention.

If you would like to learn more Apple Notes tips, this PC Mag article taught me a trick or two.