Simple Ways to Stay Organized with Alexa
We’re sharing 11 super simple ways to stay organized with Alexa today!
Several weeks ago, I was at Bliss Barracks crafting monogrammed door ornaments and baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies when my Mom said, “CoCo, remind me to confirm our dinner reservations today.”
I swear not even 10 minutes later, she said, “CoCo, don’t forget we need to take the cookies out at 2 pm.”
Sensing we might have trouble remembering those things while also trying to concentrate on the task at hand, I immediately asked Alexa to set a timer for the cookies and a reminder to confirm our dinner reservations.
I won’t say it caught my Mom completely off guard, but she seemed pleasantly surprised it was even an option to stay organized with Alexa.
With this in mind, I thought I would share some very basic ways you can use Alexa as a personal assistant to help you stay organized each day.
And when I say basic, I mean *very* basic. I’m still trying to figure out how to use my i-phone 😉
Before we get started though…
Who Is Alexa?
Alexa is the voice and AI personality you hear on your smart home devices associated with Amazon such as the Echo Show, Echo, and Echo Dot.
In order to use Alexa’s capabilities to personalize your experience though, you’ll have to have the internet and have downloaded the Alexa app onto your smartphone so you can sync your devices.
You can find the Alexa app in the Apple Store here or find it in the Google Play Store here.
Amazon Echo Devices…
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Ok, now that we’re all on the same page…
Here’s a look at 11 super simple ways to stay organized with Alexa…
Use Alexa as an Alarm…
Use Alexa as an alarm by asking her to wake you up at a specific time each day.
She can wake you up with your favorite song, podcast, turn the lights on for you, and even start the coffee if you’re using smart plugs or a smart appliance.
We say, “Alexa, start my day…” nearly every morning but you can also use a command like, “Alexa, good morning…” to start the day.
It’s simple to customize your own routine and you can get everything from a 2-4 minute news flash brief from your favorite outlets, a traffic report, the weather report, and even have Alexa turn on your favorite playlist.
Bonus, you can also use this same feature to create a nightly routine too!
Stay Organized with Alexa by Setting Reminders…
This is probably one of the features we use most.
You can set a one-time reminder like, “Alexa, remind me to pick up S from the airport on Tuesday at 6 pm.”
OR
set reoccurring reminders like, “Remind me to clean out the refrigerator every Thursday at 11 am.”
It’s also really helpful for things like soccer games, dance practices, music lessons, or even as a reminder to pack equipment and uniforms for those days.
Use Alexa to Add Appointments and Events to Your Calendar…
Stay organized by syncing your Google or Outlook calendar and giving Alexa all the details.
You can tell Alexa which events to add by saying, “Alexa, add Sarah’s graduation on June 3rd at 8 pm to my calendar.”
OR
by asking her to recall activities on specific days such as, “Alexa, what’s on my calendar for January 18th?”
Stay Organized with Alexa by Making Lists…
If you’re someone that likes to keep multiple lists but don’t consider yourself a “pen and paper” kind of person, stay organized with Alexa by making lists.
You can keep multiple lists such as a goals list, a grocery list, a book list, a travel list, a Christmas list, etc. simultaneously.
Each list will require a name to keep things organized.
But saying, “Alexa, add almond milk to my shopping list” or “Alexa, add run a half marathon to my goals list,” has never been easier.
Ask Alexa to Set the Timer…
“Alexa, set the timer for 45 minutes,” is another feature we use multiple times a day, every day.
The good thing is you can set multiple timers at once which is great for dinner and baking.
We also use this function to time block work-related tasks, exercise, a quick afternoon cat nap, and even the 15 Minute Clutter Catcher Technique we use every night.
Ask Alexa to Play Music…
This is another feature we use all the time!
Aside from our morning playlist, I’ll say, “Alexa, play… “classical music when I’m typing out blog posts, coffee house music (Acoustic Chill or Mellow Folk are both relaxing) when we’re hanging out, dinner music (Italian Dinner Party Station is fun for pasta night), rain sounds if I’m having trouble falling asleep or calming pet music when Piper is having a hard day.
We also listen to Radio Mystery Theater when we’re putting puzzles together or working on our paint-by-numbers canvas.
Stay Organized with Alexa by Counting Down Important Dates…
If you have littles you already know the number of times they ask “How many days until…my birthday…Halloween…Christmas,” because they are so excited to celebrate.
While asking, “Alexa, how many days until Christmas,” will help answer their question it can also help you stay on track and organized as the hustle and bustle of the holidays begin or a big project you’re working on draws near.
Ask Alexa Questions…
This is another feature we use multiple times a day, every single day.
In fact, just yesterday I asked, “Alexa, how many US Presidents were left-handed?” because we have so many lefties in our family!
You don’t have to just ask Alexa random trivia questions though. She also comes in handy when you’re stuck on a math problem or need help with spelling too.
Alexa, Add to Cart…
Truth be told, we do our Amazon shopping directly from the app or from our laptops as opposed to shopping via Alexa.
Given your Echo device is connected to your Amazon account, asking Alexa to place a specific item in your cart is definitely an option you might want to take advantage of though.
Most of the time, Alexa is good about reminding us to reorder those items we purchase on a regular basis from loose leaf tea to laundry detergent.
I hope these simple ways to stay organized with Alexa have helped!
While I’ll always consider myself a pen and paper kind of girl, I understand the importance of learning simple ways technology can help to make your life easier.
Even when technology feels scary at times.
As with all technology and smart home devices remember to use caution and care, parental controls where needed, and make sure you understand the privacy policies associated with features and devices as well as best cybersecurity practices.
Do you stay organized with Alexa? If so, we’d love to hear your favorite tips and tricks!
Many blessings,
CoCo
We use Alexa as an intercom. The kids both have devices in their room, so when I am in the kitchen and dinner is ready, I say Alexa tell everyone that dinner is ready. It’s so fun!!!
Such a great idea, Betsy, thank you for letting me know about this! I’ll have to try it out and pass it along to friends and family members too. Hope your week has been a fun one, CoCo
We love Alexa – we also use ‘her’ to turn on and off our lights!
That is so cool, Patti, and super convenient too! Thanks so much for the tip. Hope your week has been a fun one, CoCo
My family uses Alexa for ALL these things. Isn’t it great? We love it! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. xo Kathleen
Oh my gosh, YES! It’s such a time saver! Hope you’re having the best week, CoCo
CoCo
I love this and forget to utilize this feature. Great reminder.
We’re all about putting any system in place that will help make our lives better or easier, Rachel. Hope you’ve had the best week! Hugs, CoCo