The Best Apps for College Students

Hello, beautiful! A strange, but fun fact about me is I'm OBSESSED with downloading new apps onto my iPhone. I'm constantly looking for new apps to experiment with, and I love discovering novel ways to implement technology into my everyday life.

Today, I'm going to tell you all about my favorite apps I've ever downloaded to help you determine the best apps for your life as a college student. And, of course, I'm always looking for new suggestions on apps to try out - so, let me know in the comments below if one of your favorites didn't make the cut!

For the most part, I keep the apps on my iPhone carefully organized into categories, so I can always find what I'm looking for. So, as I take you through the apps on my phone, I'll be taking you through category-by-category so you can also see how I organize my phone!

Additionally, if you want the full run-down of how I organize my iPhone, scroll to the bottom and sign up for my free e-mail list to get access to my password-protected printable library. Inside, you'll find my free printable guide, How I Organize My iPhone! So, what are you waiting for? Let's get started :)

Productivity

A view of my to-do list in One List 

One List (Free with ads, iOS and Android)

One List is like your one-stop-shop for the perfect to-do list. Instead of asking you to create dozens of lists, One List keeps your to-dos organized in one spot. What makes this app unique is its color-coded prioritization system, which keeps you on track to accomplish the most important tasks of the day first. The only thing I don't love about this app is the pesky ads, which you have to pay to get rid of; however, I happen to think it's worth it for the dozens of hours of procrastination this app has saved me over the past few weeks. 

Google Calendar (Free, iOS, Android and Web)

Google Calendar might seem basic to those of you who have been using it FOR-EVER, but it still tops my list of all-time favorite apps for college students! I especially love Google Calendar as a blogger because it allows you to create multiple calendars. So, I can sync my everyday calendar with my content calendar, or view them on their own to keep my blog and life separate. Additionally, I love that I can sync my calendar with Ryan's so that we can see each other's class schedules when we're apart during the school year - that way we know when we can and can't text or call.

Spark (Free, iOS)

After I deleted my Mail app in a fit of rage, I discovered the magic of Spark. Spark organizes your email into categories based on its importance, so you don't have to read all 100 of those store newsletters if you don't want to. All the important emails automatically go to the top of your inbox, while newsletters and promotional emails are kept separate at the bottom. You can also pin important emails to the top of your inbox, so you'll never lose that important sponsored post opportunity or class syllabus again! 

Life Wheel (Free, iOS and Android)

I just downloaded Life Wheel, and I already love it! LifeWheel helps you lead a more balanced life by creating goals in all areas of your life, rather than hyper-focusing on one or two goals. To start using the app, you first rate your satisfaction in a bunch of areas of life, ranging from money to family to "life brightness." Then, the app guides you through setting goals in all areas of your life (with sub-tasks to help you reach them faster!). Each goal raises your life satisfaction by however many points you choose. So, the sooner you start working toward your goals, the more balanced and fulfilling your Life Wheel becomes! 

Tally (Free, iOS and Android; $3.99 for full version) 

Tally is a little bit like Life Wheel in that it helps you set and achieve your goals. Essentially, it's a habit-tracker that can let you know how many times per day, week, month or year you've completed a particular action. For me, some of the actions I track include the number of cups of coffee I drink per week (usually somewhere between 7 and 14, in case you were wondering) and how many days per week I successfully go without spending money (my target number of days is 5). The only downside of this app is that you can only track up to 3 habits with the free version of the app, so I would recommend you splurge the $3.99 for the paid one if you can help it. 

Finance

My Venmo profile (feel free to send me $$ for my college fund...just kidding.)

Venmo (Free, iOS and Android)

If you're in college, chances are your friends are already all about Venmo! However, if you've been living under a rock and haven't heard of it (just kidding!), Venmo is the easiest way to send and request money from your friends. Say you pay $10.00 for a pizza and your friend eats half - well, if you know their Venmo username, you can easily request that they pay you $5.00! Any money that you're sent via Venmo can then either be transferred into your bank account or used to pay back your friends at a later date. Plus, it's totally secure, so you don't have to worry about your bank account info getting out there!

Cartwheel (Free, iOS and Android)

I'm the kind of person who could easily spend over $100 at Target completely by accident...if that description speaks to you, then you NEED to download Cartwheel! Cartwheel is Target's coupon-clipping app - but before you rule me off as some old grandma, just hear me out. Not only can Cartwheel save you tons of money with manufacturer's coupons, but Target's store brand almost always has coupons for 10-15% off. So, with Cartwheel, you should never have to pay full price for anything at Target ever again! How cool is that? 

Stash Invest (Free, iOS and Android)

Investing can be a daunting task if you're just starting out, but Stash makes it easy to get your foot in the door of the stock market! With Stash, you can set up an automatic payment of as little as $5.00 per month (I put in $5.00 every 2 weeks for a total of $10.00 per month) to invest in the stock market. Once the money hits your "Stash," you can choose how you want to invest it with a bunch of pre-made packages of stocks and bonds. Stash even makes paying taxes on your investments easy by releasing tax documents once the time comes, so any dividends you earned (money made off your investment, basically) can be easily kept track of.

Mint (Free, iOS, Android and Web)

I tried tons of different ways of budgeting my money on my phone throughout my first year of college, but the Mint app was my favorite way I've found to keep myself on track. Since I'm the kind of person who likes to make a paper budget and print it out, I also don't find myself looking at my budget very often. With Mint, I can easily enter my monthly budget into my phone and receive e-mail and app notifications when I've exceeded my spending goals for the month. Additionally, I can add one-time spending expenses for a particular month, and check my credit score straight from the app without negatively impacting it. Overall, Mint is just like having an entire bank tucked away in your phone!

Mental Health

A review of my daily check-ins in Stop, Breathe & Think (I'm not doing so hot this week, I guess)

Pacifica (Free, iOS, Android and Web)

As someone who suffers from generalized anxiety, I love using Pacifica to keep track of my mood changes, health and anxiety throughout the month. Every day, Pacifica automatically logs my sleep from the Health app. Plus, I can easily log other factors - such as time spent meditating, time spent with friends and time spent on my relationship - and see how they reduce or increase my anxiety over the course of a week. Every week, Pacifica sends me a digest of how my anxiety is doing with a handy chart showing the changes in my moods over time. But that's not all: the app also includes some handy exercises, such as meditations and guided journaling, to reduce anxiety on-the-go. 

Simply Being ($1.99, iOS and Android)

Of all the meditation apps I've tried, Simply Being is both the most simple and one of the most relaxing. With Simply Being, all you need to do to start meditating is select a length of time - ranging from 5 to 30 minutes - and a background noise (I like the rain sounds) and get right to it! Personally, I love this app because I find the guidance to be very mellow and relaxing, unlike some apps that provide too much or too little guidance during your meditation. The only negative side to this app is, unlike other meditation apps, there's no way to track how much time you've spent meditating over the past week or month. So, if you're someone who needs more variety in your meditations or likes to keep track in-app, Simply Being might not be the meditation app for you. 

Stop, Breathe & Think (Free, iOS and Android)

Stop, Breathe & Think might just be my FAVORITE meditation app of all time! With Simply Being, you log your moods and the app generates a recommendation for a meditation for you to perform. So, all the meditations are especially geared toward your frame of mind, making it easy to "getcha' head in the game" (to steal a quote from High School Musical) when you're meditating. If there's anything I don't love about this app, it's that it can get a little repetitive if you're not paying for a monthly subscription. So, I like to alternate using Stop, Breathe & Think with some of the other meditation apps in my arsenal to ensure I don't get bored of my meditation routine.

Simple Habit (Free, iOS and Android)

Simple Habit ties with Stop, Breathe & Think for one of my all-time favorite meditation apps, though I haven't been using it as long. Simple Habit features a lot of meditation options, but my favorite part of this app is its "on-the-go" feature. With the "on-the-go" screen, you can easily select what you're up to - whether that's waking up or commuting to work or struggling through a tough day - and whether you have 5, 10 or 20 minutes to meditate. Then, the app guides you through a meditation that's geared toward what you're doing - for example, I especially love their "train commute" meditation for days when I have my internship and I'm stuck on the subway! 

Health & Fitness

My cycle overview in Clue - that explains all those PMS cravings!

Round (Free, iOS)

If you take daily medications at the same time every day (for example, a hormonal birth control pill or an antidepressant), Round will completely transform your life. With Round, you can enter all your medications and set a window of time you'd like to take them for. Then, Round will give you a gentle - not at all annoying - reminder during that period to make sure you take it on time. When you do take it, all you need to do is press the button in the center of your screen. The button will then turn green, and so will the day in your calendar, so you can easily see if you forgot a pill anytime recently. 

Clue (Free, iOS and Android) 

In case you haven't heard yet, I'm an ambassador for the Clue period-tracking app! I might be a little biased, but personally I think Clue is the best period-tracking app I've tried. Clue makes it easy to log your periods and your cyclical symptoms and view them on one screen. If that's not enough already, the app sends you a monthly summary of your cycle and your symptoms so you can easily tell if your periods are within the expected normal range for someone your age. You can also share your period data with anyone else who has the Clue app, or generate a printable report of your symptoms for anyone who wants one - so, if your partner or doctor is interested in your cycle, Clue is totally the app for you! 

Lark (Free, iOS and Web)

If you're interested in healthier living, Lark is the app for you! The app uses artificial intelligence to easily gather data on your sleep and movement patterns from your Health app and chats you through an explanation of what you're seeing. So, you can easily find out if you're being active enough or sleeping enough based on information from the Lark chat bot. You can also complete a "mindfulness check-in" to let Lark know how you're feeling, and the bot will give you some inspirational advice to get you through the rest of your day! The only downside is if you want to take full advantage of all of Lark's features (including it's handy food-tracker and analysis), you'll have to sign up for a paid subscription at the lofty price of $20.00 a month. However, if weight loss is one of your major goals in life, that price-tag may even be worth it! 

My Food Log (Free, iOS) 

My Food Log is one of the most unique food journals out there. Not only do I love that it doesn't keep track of calories, but you also complete your logs completely via text message. The app automatically creates a contact for you called My Food Log as soon as you download it. Then, whenever you have a meal, all you need to do is text My Food Log with what you ate and it automatically enters your log for the day. You can also easily swipe back and forth to see what you ate on previous days and compare your progress over time! Using My Food Log literally could not be easier.

Education

Learning French in DuoLingo...I guess I should probably be practicing more often!

Countable (Free, iOS, Android and Web)

As a Political Science major, nothing is more important than keeping our country engaged and informed. Countable is an app that's making an awesome effort toward pushing more people to get involved in politics. Countable connects you with your state representatives and senators so you can easily see how they vote. Plus, you can use the app to learn more about the bills headed before Congress and easily send e-mail responses or call your elected officials to let them know how you feel about it. Being politically active has never been easier than with Countable!

DuoLingo (Free, iOS, Android and Web) 

Whether you're currently taking a language and need a little extra help, or you're interested in learning a language on your own, DuoLingo is an amazing app that will help train your brain to become multi-lingual. In high school, I always wanted to take French, but Spanish was the only thing that would fit into my schedule - so, when Ryan and I started planning our trip to Europe post-graduation, we both downloaded DuoLingo; I to learn French, and he to learn German. The app lets you practice and hone your speaking, writing and comprehension skills with cute and easy games and activities. Plus, the app gives you little updates to boost your confidence - for example, I just learned that I am 7% fluent in French! Woohoo! #GoMe

Quizlet (Free, iOS, Android and Web)

Finally, Quizlet is the ultimate must-have for any college student who's struggling through a tough lecture or has tons of terms to remember. Quizlet boosts your memorization using virtual flashcards and games. You can either choose from tons of sets created by users around the world, or create your own. Plus, if you choose to create your own, you can create a "class" and add your friends, so they too can take advantage of all your hard work! (And likewise for you with them.) The app can be downloaded on iOS and Android, but I'm a bigger fan of the web version, which has more features and fun games to play on the go. 

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My Top 5 Wardrobe Staples

Hello, beautiful! You know those shopping trips where you buy so much stuff your arms get sore, your credit card bill weeps and your heart nearly bursts with joy? Well, that was me the other day - and now I'm here to share what I bought with you!

But first, I wanted to take a minute to talk about a few of the wardrobe staples I can't live without. In case you missed my post on capsule wardrobes, I've been trying to minimize my wardrobe lately - and I strongly feel that enhancing your closet with high-quality basics is the best way to successfully reduce the number of items in your closet.

I'll also be sharing some of my very best shopping tips to help you navigate the stores and the sales like an old pro! If you're someone like me who easily gets overwhelmed by the environment at the mall, I promise my tips will help you simplify the shopping experience.

My Top 5 Wardrobe Staples 

No closet is complete without an array of neutral basics that can be mixed and matched with every outfit. When I headed out to my local mall on Monday to shop the latest summer sales, I knew I wanted to increase the number of staples in my closet to enhance the versatility of my wardrobe. Now, I'll be showing you what I bought and explaining why I ranked it in my list of top 5 wardrobe basics! 

#1 Black Jeans & #2 White Tee

No wardrobe can ever be complete without the classic combo of black jeans and a white tee! Believe it or not, I went years without owning either a white tee shirt or a pair of plain black skinny jenas - which is why I picked up this adorable set on sale at Abercrombie & Fitch! I love the quality of A&F's clothing, but at full price, it's not something this broke college girl could normally afford. During their summer sale, I scored this pair of black jeans for just $20 and this comfy swing tee for just $10, making these staples a total steal.

I love the combination of a plain tee and black pants for its style and simplicity. For a casual look that screams NYC, you can cuff the bottoms of your black jeans and throw on some cute suede ankle booties. Or, to dress it up for a casual day at work, roll down those jeans, throw on a black blazer and slip into your most practical pair of black flats. 

#3 Simple Day Dress

I've been jokingly referring to this as the "World's Cutest Dress" ever since I first saw it hanging from the rack inside A&F. It was so cute, in fact, that despite the overwhelming number of sales at the mall, I splurged and bought the number at full price for $58. I love that this linen dress is well-constructed and looks like something I bought at Madewell, yet cost about a fraction of the price. 

I obviously love a good day dress for spring and summer - but the best part about a wardrobe staple like this is that you can easily transition it into the cooler fall and winter seasons as well. With a simple cardigan sweater, some sheer tights and a pair of cute booties, this dress can go from the poolside picnics of August to the snowy days of November in no time.

#4 Nude Flats

Okay, okay: it might be cheating to consider these shoes "flats," since they've technically got a wedge heel. However, as someone who's only 5'1", I think I deserve a free pass! Admittedly, they were a bit of an impulse buy on my way out of the mall, but since my old black flats are falling apart at the heel, I'm forgiving myself for this $24.99 Payless purchase.

In my humble opinion, nude flats transition from day to night a smidge better than the traditional black ones - especially "cheater" ones with a bit of a heel. Wear them with work pants and a blazer (or a cute dress and cardigan) during the day, then take off the blazer (or cardigan) and amp up the eye makeup for night. 

#5 Quality Lingerie

What goes underneath your clothes is just as important as what you wear. Not only do you want to be smooth and wrinkle-free throughout the day (which means avoiding lace bras with thin tee shirts and the like), but wearing lingerie you love can give you a boost of confidence on bad days. 

As you might be able to tell from this picture, the Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale is my FAVORITE time of year to splurge on new lingerie. Ever since I turned 16, I've shopped this sale religiously. The three bras pictured in this photograph each cost me $20, while the white bralette cost only $5 in-store...speaking of which, my best tip for shopping the VS semi-annual sale? Always shop in-store versus online; I tend to find there are more in-stock varieties in my size offline than on.

Honorable Mention

I almost thought I could live without mentioning these denim shorts, but since it's been 90 degrees and sweltering hot outside for the past five days, dark-wash denim shorts like this $25 pair from Hollister are quickly becoming my latest obsession. While they aren't exactly a wardrobe "staple," they still make for much cooler nights than my black skinny jeans! 

My Best Shopping Tips 

If you're anything like me, you might get a little bit overwhelmed by big semi-annual sales. Unfortunately, if you're anything like me, they're also probably your favorite time of year to shop, since it's a great way to get a bang for your buck when it comes to high-quality wardrobe staples. Thankfully, I've learned a few key ways to minimize anxiety and stay focused while navigating the mall during this stressful shopping time: 

• Start with a plan. Creating a list of all the stores you want to stop at will help you simplify your shopping trip and avoid impulse-buying items that won't fit into your wardrobe. My personal list included some of my favorite stores like Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch.
• Know what you need. With the exception of the World's Cutest Dress, everything I bought was strategically designed to fill a gap in my wardrobe. Buying only things you actually need, rather than throwaway items, will help you love what's already in your closet that much more.
• Understand your personal style. I used to be the kind of person who tried to "reinvent" myself through clothing. To me, basic equaled boring, so I didn't want to "waste" money on wardrobe staples like white tees and black jeans. Now, I try to stick to things I know I actually like - even if my personal style is a little bit plain Jane, I definitely save more money by buying clothes I'll actually wear IRL! 
• Shop twice annually. Going on two massive shopping trips in June/July and December/January during semi-annual sales will save you money in the long run - not just from the bargains you'll find, but also because you won't feel as tempted to impulse shop during the rest of the year.
• Don't shy away from your real size. During this shopping trip, I discovered my jeans and dress sizes had increased, while my bra size had gone down. High school me might have forced myself to squeeze into an extra small dress or size 3 shorts, but now, I think comfort and fit are the keys to ensuring your wardrobe staples actually last!
• Resist buying into trends. As a sorority girl, I know how tempting it can be to buy That Bag or Those Shoes - you know, the ones all your friends have been scrambling to get their hands on for months now.  However, I think it's so important to resist transient trends and instead invest in timeless pieces that won't go out of style. 

What's the #1 wardrobe staple you couldn't live without? Let me know in the comments below!

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My Perfect Morning Routine

Hello, beautiful! One thing you might not guess about me is that I am a morning person. I am most productive after I wake up in the morning, and I tend to hit a bad afternoon slump where I stop getting anything done at all until I've had my coffee.

As a morning person, I'm constantly trying to learn how I can make the most of my mornings. It's so important to start off on the right foot and take advantage of the most productive part of my day. Whenever I sleep through my mornings or forget to perform a step in my morning routine, I just feel off for the rest of the day.

However, for college students, I know how hard it can be to stick to any kind of routine while you're home. It's more than tempting to stay out too late and end up sleeping in too long over the summer, since you don't have any 8:00 AM classes to keep you in line!

Admittedly, striking the right balance between making the most of your summers and making the most of your mornings takes some practice. But just in case you were wondering, here are a couple of things I've learned along the way to help your mornings run as smoothly as possible - even over the busy summer season :)

P.S. Scroll to the end of this post to find out how you can get your free printable version of this summer morning routine!

Avoid Checking E-mail

The first and probably most important step in my morning routine is actually something not to do: don't check your e-mail first thing in the morning! I know how tempting it can be to reach for your phone when you're not ready to get out of bed just yet. (I'm still getting the hang of it myself, TBH.) But try your best to resist the urge! I firmly believe giving yourself a few quiet moments first thing in the morning, instead of diving into those pressing e-mails, is one of the kindest things you can do for your mind, body and spirit. 

If you're like me and you tend to get sucked into an Instagram and Facebook hole when your alarm goes off, try leaving your phone across the room when you go to bed at night. That way, when you wake up in the morning, you're forced to get up and start your day instead of using your phone as an excuse to be lazy! (Because let's face it: scrolling through e-mail is pretty much like hitting the snooze button.)

Meditation

Unless I'm headed to my internship early in the morning, I try to meditate every day for 5-10 minutes before I start my mornings. Starting my day off with a few moments of peace and quiet for myself helps me clear my head and puts me in the right mood to have an amazing day. Usually, I meditate using an app like Stop, Breathe & Think or Simply Being, which have been my two favorites as of lately. Stop, Breathe & Think is especially great because it asks you to check in with your body and emotions before meditating, so you really get a good sense of the place you're coming from this morning.

Meditation isn't an easy habit to start if you're not already doing it - it takes a lot of practice to be able to ignore the thoughts running wild in your head - but there's plenty of science to back up why you should be meditating first thing in the morning. In case it isn't enough that meditation is recommended by many therapists (like mine!), Psychology Today has a great article called 20 Scientific Reasons to Start Meditating Today that covers all the amazing ways that meditation benefits your body and mind. So, get schooled and start adding 5-10 minutes of meditation to your morning routine to help you have the perfectly productive day! 

Exercise

Since I've been home, I haven't been exercising as much as I would like, so I'm trying to start adding 10-15 minutes of HIIT - or High Intensity Interval Training - to my morning routine to keep me active during the summer months. In case you haven't heard of HIIT, the idea is that you alternate short periods of vigorous activity (like, so vigorous you can barely speak or breathe) with short periods of rest to maximize your body's fat-burning and muscle-building potential.

You might think you need a fancy gym membership to start working out first thing in the morning, but in reality, if you have a phone or computer, you already have everything you need to get a great HIIT workout in the morning! Tone It Up and Blogilates are my two favorite YouTube channels for HIIT workouts - Karena, Katrina and Cassey are such fun and motivational trainers, but they'll still whip your butt into shape! Try the Tone It Up Boxing HIIT Workout or Blogilates' Train Insane HIIT Workout for some quick exercises that will leave you feeling fitter in no time.

Hygiene

My personal hygiene routine is the most important part of my mornings. Even if I skip everything else on this list, I absolutely cannot miss washing my face, brushing my teeth and taking a shower, even if it's just a quick one. It may sound vain, but I honestly believe your physical appearance is inherently tied to your confidence and mental health! It's amazing what a difference taking the time to wash your face, do your hair and put on some cute clothes can make on your entire morning (and even your day!).

The first step in my personal hygiene routine every morning is putting in my contacts - weirdly enough, I just don't feel right starting off the day in glasses. I then love using Crest's whitening toothpaste and mouthwash products to get rid of any bad breath or plaque that may have built up in my mouth overnight. I also follow a very strict skincare routine to keep my skin glowing, soft and blemish-free - comment below if you want to see an updated post on my summer skincare routine! Finally, a quick shower to wash my hair, rinse my body and (sometimes...) shave my legs is all I need to feel squeaky clean and ready to start my morning right :) 

Water

Your body is SO dehydrated when you wake up first thing in the morning! After 8+ hours without a glass of water, your body is practically begging for a cool drink. So, instead of starting my morning with coffee or tea, I prefer to hydrate my body with a full glass of water first thing in the morning (usually I drink this with my vitamins; see the next heading for more detail on those!) and save the caffeine for my afternoon slump. 

It took me a long time to train myself to drink a healthy amount of water throughout the day. Believe it or not, someone my size needs to drink 9 full glasses of water every day - and I'm only 5'1"! But before you say H2O-no-you-can't, here's a tip I used to use to help me remember to drink: while I don't do this anymore, I used to use the app Plant Nanny to help remind me to drink water...basically, in the app, you take care of a virtual plant by logging the water you drink. If you don't remember to drink, your plant will die - symbolizing your own personal dehydration! 

Vitamins

Nutrition is one of those things I've always been interested in. I especially love learning more about different vitamins and supplements I can take to help keep my body healthy. YouTuber Nikki Philippi (she's one of my faves!) was actually one of the first people to introduce me to the power of vitamins. Now that I know what a big different getting the right nutrients can make in someone's health and lifestyle, I wouldn't dream of going a day without taking my morning multivitamin! Right now I'm just taking a simple women's multivitamin from CVS, but when these run out I'm planning to switch to a personalized pack from care/of - simply visit their website, take the quiz and get personalized recommendations for a daily packet of vitamins to take every day! (Not to mention, their vitamins are cheaper than those at most Targets or health food stores...)

I've also been a big believer in the power of probiotics ever since my struggles with hormonal birth control, which you can read all about here. If you haven't heard of probiotics, they're basically pills you can take every day to replenish the healthy bacteria in your gut microbiota. However, for women, probiotics can have special added benefits, because the beneficial lactobacillus found in many high-quality probiotics colonizes not only your gut, but also helps to regulate the pH of your vagina and prevent many infections (such as bacterial vaginosis). Currently I take Culturelle probiotics every morning, but care/of sells its very own probiotic blend for just $8.00 a month that I can't wait to try! 

Breakfast

Depending on who you are, breakfast is take it or leave it - but to me, it's non-negotiable! Without eating breakfast in the morning, I'm hungry, cranky and exhausted by noon. To avoid hitting a mid-morning crash, I always make sure to eat a filling and nutritious breakfast before I start the rest of my day. 

Over the summer, it's especially easy to make sure you eat a healthy breakfast because you tend to have much more time in the morning to get ready. I love summer because I can finally cook something a little more complex than a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast for breakfast! Breakfast potatoes (usually with kale and garlic!), steel cut oatmeal with dried fruit, banana pancakes or smoothie bowls are all delicious, plant-based options to start your morning off right...follow me @haleymarieblog on Pinterest to find some great recipes for each!

Reading

Another habit I've recently been trying to get back into is reading a little bit every day. I love to read, but I don't have much time for it during the school year. So, over the summer, I'm starting to read a couple pages of a self-improvement book every day to try to catch up on the reading I've missed! 

One of my favorite topics to read about is mental health, since my anxiety and depression impact my life so prominently. Right now, I'm reading the book Anxious in Love by Carolyn Daitch and Lisa Lorberbaum. If you're someone who experiences a lot of relationship conflict due to your anxiety, or at the very least feels self-conscious about how your anxiety might be affecting your partner, this book is for you! While it's aimed at people who are married, I'm still finding it extremely useful as a college gal in a committed relationship to help me analyze how much of my anxiety is really my partner's fault, and how I can prevent it from impacting our love for one another. 

To-Do Lists

Finally, the last thing I always do in the morning before I jump into my day is write my to-do list. I've heard a couple of good arguments as to why to-do lists are doing more harm than good, but I find that without one, I'm way too discombobulated to remember all of the tasks I need to accomplish. So, even if a good old-fashioned to-do list isn't what the experts are recommending nowadays, I'm still the kind of person who needs one to stay on top of my sh*t!

Usually I write my to-do list directly into my planner - this year I'm using a planner by Eccolo Ltd., and I have to say I'm hooked! Now that I've had the privilege of using their planner, I don't think I could ever go back to my old ways of writing my to-do lists on old scraps of paper and leaving them scattered around. Keeping my to-do list in one place helps keep me on track for the day, since I always know where to look for my list. It also allows me to easily look back on prior lists to see if there's anything I still need to accomplish from the day or week before. So, if you don't have a planner with a to-do list in its layout, I highly recommend you get one from Eccolo Ltd. - or simply buy a cute little notebook to write all your to-do lists in instead!

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Girlboss Tools to Get You Organized

Hello, beautiful - and welcome back to Haley Marie Blog! I don't often write about my personal experience as a blogger, but today I thought I'd share some tips for all the busy college gals trying to bust their way into the blogging world.

Blogging, like everything else, is never as easy as the pros make it seem. However, as college students trying to juggle classes, homework, part-time jobs, extracurriculars and blogging, we face an even tougher challenge trying to make it as small online business owners.

I've been blogging on various platforms for over three years now, and I only just recently feel like I really started to "get" what makes a blog successful. Lately, I feel like I've really found my groove when it comes to my productivity and content organization - and I can't wait to let you in on all my secrets!

Today, I'm going to share five of the strategies I use to balance my blog with the rest of my life for all the busy college bloggers out there. These are techniques and platforms I wish someone had told me about when I started my first-ever blog three years ago. But while I might not be able to go back in time and teach myself to do it differently, at least I can help the next generation of college bloggers get it right the first time :)

For level one basic organization: my Eccolo planner

If I had to pick any one of these organization tools I couldn't live without, it would be my Eccolo Ltd. planner from TJ Maxx. A planner probably seems so #basic I shouldn't even have to mention it, but you wouldn't believe how many people I know in college who still aren't using one! While it's pretty obvious how a planner can help you organize your life, I'm also a huge fan of using my planner to organize my blog. Firstly, my planner has an adorable weekly layout that includes a weekly to-do list and notes, so I like to use this space to jot down any post ideas or blogging tasks I have to accomplish throughout the week. Secondly, I always write down the titles and due dates of my scheduled posts for the week in my planner to ensure I remember to take the time to promote them despite my busy day-to-day life. Thirdly and finally, I love to set goals for the week ahead, whether personal or blog-related, by writing them in my planner! Some bloggers like to keep a separate planner for their blog, but I prefer to keep everything in one planner because, let's face it: the work of a blogger is never done ;) 

For the world's best content calendar: Google Calendar

Girl, if you're a blogger and you're in college, then you need a good content calendar to keep your blog organize and on track! I like to stay at least a week or two ahead on my blog posts just in case some unexpected life stuff - such as a test or a busy work week - pops up, but using my content calendar, I'm actually blogging almost a month in advance right now. There's many opinions out there on which content calendar is the best, but in my opinion Google Calendar is the one calendar to rule them all! As a college blogger, I like Google Calendar particularly because you can actually create multiple color-coded calendars and view them all on one screen. Especially since I started my side blog Politibow, I've found it especially useful to see where my blog posts on Haley Marie overlap with my content on other sites (like Politibow posts or guest posts on other blogs), as well as with big life stuff like doctor's appointments, therapy, exams and work.

For seamless social media posts: Buffer

Now that I'm ahead on my blog posts, I only recently decided to start upping my social media game by scheduling my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter posts with Buffer. If you haven't heard of Buffer, it's a free service for scheduling social media posts (with paid subscription options). At no cost to you, you can schedule posts to Facebook and Twitter and receive reminders to post to Instagram from the Buffer app. Honestly, Buffer has been a GODSEND for the @haleymarieblog account on social media. Throughout the day, it can be difficult to remember to post to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram the recommended number of times while you're busy bouncing from one thing to another - not to mention, you can't live your entire life behind a screen! I love that Buffer allows me to schedule my posts and forget about them instead of needing to constantly be glued to my phone to interact with my readers. With Buffer, I'm actually posting more often and getting more interaction from readers than I ever have before, which I think is SO cool! The only thing I don't like about Buffer is that you have to pay to include Pinterest in your plan. Currently, I'm not doing this since it's summer and I have plenty of time to pin; however, I'm considering investing in a paid Buffer subscription or BoardBooster subscription for my Pinterest account during the school year. TBD on how that goes, but I'll be sure to let y'all know what I think! :) 

For a decluttered inbox with zero effort: Spark

At one point in my life, I was so frustrated with my hundreds of email notifications (in the name of full disclosure, I'd just like to point out that most weren't from Haley Marie Blog - most were just from LUSH/Poshmark/Victoria's Secret telling me that sh*t went on sale) that I actually deleted the mail app off my phone. Since I have clinical anxiety, I'm not a person who feels good when she checks her email first thing in the morning; it leaves me feeling stressed and dreading my day rather than looking forward to diving right in. However, since I'm also a person who likes to stay organized, I soon realized that ignoring the clutter wasn't the right answer. So, I downloaded the Spark mail app, a free app for your phone that automatically sorts your email into personal emails, newsletters and promotional mail in a minimalist landscape. That way, you don't actually have to open every email that comes into your inbox to figure out what to delete - Spark does that for you! How cool is that? 

For monetization without the #struggle: Google Sheets and PayPal

Finally, let's talk about blog monetization. It's no secret that I've written sponsored posts and included affiliate links in the past - but I'm not exactly getting rich here, either. Blog monetization is something  I'm still working on (like many of you!), but I have to say, it's gotten a LOT easier since I started using Google Sheets to keep track of the money that goes in and out of my blog. Google Sheets is basically Microsoft Excel for the web. In my Sheets account, I keep a spreadsheet called Blog Expenses 2016-17, where I used its formulas to create a simple spreadsheet that adds up my blog income, adds up how much I've spent on my blog and subtracts my outgoing expenses from my income so I can see the total amount of money I've made this year. It's not just helpful (y'know, for tax purposes and whatnot) but it's also a great way to look back on the year and see just how many cool things I've accomplished! Additionally, you might have noticed that I mentioned a second app/tool in this section - and that tool is PayPal. If you're interested in monetizing your blog, I highly recommend signing up for a PayPal account. PayPal is one of the easiest ways to create invoices and request payment from potential business partners. I especially love it because you can create a custom link for yourself and e-mail it to people you're working with so they can easily pay you the fee you've requested. That's why I 10 out of 10 recommend PayPal for any college blogger who's looking to make a little extra cash from her blog!

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6 Ways to Get Ready For College (Guest Post)

Hello, beautiful! Today I am so excited to share a guest post from one of my favorite up-and-coming college bloggers, Ashley of Dear Ash.

Ashley and I have been working together a lot recently; in case you missed the guest post I wrote for her blog, you can check it out by clicking here. She is such a talented blogger and simply an all-around pleasure to work with! But, don't let me tell you how great she is - just scroll down to see for yourself :)

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Hi lovelies! My name is Ashley and I am the blogger behind Dear Ash. I created this publication to encourage and inspire women through life, fashion, and beauty. I am currently majoring in Journalism and Management at Miami University.

Today, I'll be informing you on how to prepare for what seems like the scariest transition of all: college. If you're a freshman, you might be falling into anxiety and fear of the future. I don't blame you. Starting a whole new chapter of your life can be really scary, especially if you have no idea what to expect.

I am the oldest sibling in my family, so I was the first to go through the crazy whirlwind that is college. Because I knew little on how to prepare for this transition, I utilized certain resources to help me along the way.

This summer doesn't have to be full of worry. You have great plans ahead of you, and it's time to embrace the inevitable! So, without further ado, here are a few ways to prepare for your freshman year of college:

1. Start doing laundry (if you haven't already)

I'll be the first to admit that I had never done a load of laundry before going to college. I was lucky enough to have a mother who would voluntarily do my brother and I's for me. But once I got to college, I had to learn the ropes of this excursion. I did my first load of laundry over the phone with my mom on the first (and overwhelming) week of college. This, I do not recommend. Especially for your coolness factor, which I certainly did not have while everyone around me saw me freaking out on the phone with my mother over if the pod is supposed to go underneath or on top of the clothes. If you want to maintain a calm and collected reputation toward your dorm mates, put some time into laundry practice this summer. By the time you get to school, you may just be a laundry pro.

2. Brainstorm clubs/organizations to get involved in

My biggest advice to any incoming freshman is to get involved as much as you can. Chances are, you're interested in something. By doing prior preparation and brainstorming of different clubs you want to join, you'll feel much more at ease about the transition. Different campuses have websites with information on clubs and organizations to join. I met all my best friends in the first week of school because I kept my eye out for things I liked and took every opportunity to go and meet people that shared the same interests. Birds of a feather flock together, so embrace the feathers you got and meet others who are just like you! You will not regret planning ahead to ensure community in college.

3. Meet up with your roomie

For some of us, the thought of having a roommate for the first time is borderline horrifying. By meeting up with your roomie in person or over FaceTime, you will have the opportunity to learn more about them and their expectations for your living situation. This way, you're able to discuss your pet peeves, what time you both get up in the morning, boys-in-the-room policy, and the color theme of your room (this is a must!). By discussing these components before move-in day, it’s less likely for things to get shaky in your dorm room. 

4. Embrace time with friends and family

This is the last summer you will be a full-time member of your hometown, so you have take it all in. Dedicate a lot of time to friends, because you are sure going to miss your gal pals. Additionally, even if you don't like the thought of it and all you want to do is attend off-to-college get togethers, you should spend time with your family. These people have been your rock all of your life, and they are going to miss you dearly. And you just might miss them a whole lot too.

5. Inform yourself

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Because I was the oldest sibling and had no idea what to expect, I had to learn about college on my own. I talked and received advice from older friends who had been in my shoes before. Additionally, I read books to inform me on how to make the most of my college experience and how to make the transition process go smoothly. In this case, ignorance is certainly not bliss. The key to embracing this change is to know how it gets hard, and just how you can approach these situations. A book I loved and annotated all the way through is U Chic: College Girls' Real Advice for Your First Year (and Beyond!). This book is a collection of other women's opinions and experiences who have survived and thrived through college. The topics they discuss vary from homesickness, friends, Greek life, and long distance relationships. I highly suggest this book because it made me 100x more confident for the big leap into my future.

6. Gather your gear

Make sure you have everything you need for the big move. From a comforter to notebooks, to the cute canvases of inspiration you've been working on, make sure they are organized and ready to go. I would not suggest procrastinating college packing, because it takes a long time to get everything together. Ask friends who have been through college what you need and what you don't need. I just recently wrote a post on what not to bring to college that could help you cross some things off your list. Getting the items together will make you feel less rushed and will allow you to focus on embracing this exciting season of your life. 

How are you preparing for college in the fall? Let us know in the comments below - and be sure to follow Ashley @dearashblog on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!

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