If you’re anything like me—a full-time mom to a high-needs kiddo, a manager juggling a million moving pieces, and a human being just trying to function—you know that staying organized isn’t optional. It’s survival.
My days are full: doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, school work, employee schedules, meetings, grocery runs, and somehow, remembering to eat lunch and deciding what to make for dinner. Over the years, I’ve found a handful of tools that help me stay (somewhat) sane and keep the chaos (mostly) under control.
Here are the five things I use every. single. day. to keep life moving:
1. Passionate Penny Pincher Planner – My Paper Brain
This planner is more than just a calendar—it’s my second brain. With its clean layout, built-in checklists, and habit trackers, it helps me organize everything from Braydin’s appointments to store meetings to meal planning. There’s something magical about physically checking things off. (Bonus: It doesn’t send me 47 notifications a day like my phone does.)
2. TimeTree App – Keeping Everyone on the Same Page
With a special needs child, multiple appointments every day and even more a week, TimeTree is how I keep our whole family and staff team synced up. I can color code everything—work, school, therapies, even “do not disturb unless someone is bleeding” time. It’s the calendar app I wish I had 10 years ago. My family and I have been using it for around 6 years and highly recommend it to everyone.
3. Modivcare App – No More Phone Tag
Transportation is a huge deal when your child has regular medical appointments. Modivcare makes it way easier to schedule non-emergency medical rides without the endless phone hold. It’s honestly one of the few apps I trust not to make my life harder. Not only can I schedule non-emergency medical rides for them to come and get us and take us to appointments if scheduled at least 48 hours out I can also request mileage reimbursement for trips that I have to drive for Braydin’s appointments. The reimbursement money has been a life saver at times when money was tight when I wasn’t getting paid from my job after cancer.
4. Libby App – Sanity Saver via Audiobooks
Sometimes I just need to escape—whether I’m folding laundry or waiting at yet another appointment. The Libby app lets me borrow audiobooks (for free!) from my local library. It helps me feel like me again, even if just for 15 minutes in the car. This year I have completed 6 books just from listening to them in the car taking Braydin to and from his appointments.
Current read? Curvy Girls Can’t Date Surfers by Kelsie Stelting. It’s number 11 in the series.
5. My iPad with the Canva App – Work, Life, and a Little Creativity
My iPad is my mini command center. I use Canva to create store promotions, social media posts, blog graphics, and even printables. It’s my creative outlet and my professional sidekick all in one. I can design while sipping ice coffee or sitting in my car at a therapy office. Canva + iPad = productivity on the go.
Side note: Bonus points when I have the hotspot I can check out from my public library! If you haven’t visited your library lately, seriously—go. Mine has saved me so many times. I recently took a totally free class through the library about starting a side hustle, and it was packed with useful info. Libraries are treasure chests, y’all. Dust off that card and go see what they’ve got for you.
Why This Matters
Being a mom of a special needs child means life doesn’t slow down. Being a manager means people rely on you. And being human means… we need support.
These tools help me do it all—or at least look like I am. 😅
If you’re out there juggling work, home, and everything in between, I see you. And if you need some tools to lighten the load, maybe something from my list will help you breathe a little easier too.
What tools do YOU swear by? Drop them in the comments—I’m always looking for my next life-saver!
juMOMjia 