This post is sponsored by Adobe Document Cloud.
One of the most common questions I’m asked is “How do you do it?” Fellow parents want to know my secrets for parenting when my husband and I are constantly traveling for work, staying on top of my business as an entrepreneur, and still finding time to do the things I love like supporting charitable causes and volunteering at my kids’ middle school. Being a writer who keeps her finger on the pulse of the latest technology does have its advantages because it allows me to keep up with the latest gadgets, apps, and tools like what Adobe Document Cloud offers.
Adobe Document Cloud is a lifesaver because it allows me to work anywhere. This powerful set of products and services includes desktop software and mobile apps that provide an efficient way for me to work on documents in my home office, while traveling, or when waiting at the orthodontist’s office, in the school pick up line, or at music lessons.
Here’s a look at some of the ways I’m using technology to keep my work and family life organized as a busy working mom always on the go!
7 Ways Technology Can Help Parents Organize Home and Family Life
Keep an Eye on Your Kids Without Being a Helicopter Parent
From cameras that provide a live feed from inside your home, smart locks that kids can key in a code to send push notifications when they arrive home, and geolocation apps, it’s easy to keep an eye on your kids without being a helicopter parent. Tech tools, gadgets, and apps help us stay on top of where our kids are. Knowing where they’re supposed to be and that they’re fine helps keep us from worrying. While they’re no substitute for us being right there with them, peace of mind can be priceless when away from our loved ones.
Provide Remote Homework Help
On days when I’m traveling for work, it’s helpful to know that I can provide homework assistance from afar thanks to Acrobat DC. My kids can snap a photo of their homework using the free Adobe Scan app on their mobile phones and upload it to Document Cloud where I can add comments or edit PDF files. Acrobat DC can also be connected to Dropbox as another way to share files and collaborate to provide homework assistance.
Preserve Cherished Family Memories
From digitizing childhood artwork, safeguarding favorite recipes as electronic files, or sharing precious digital photos, technology not only helps us declutter but it also helps us to preserve treasured family moments and memories. For tips on ways you can declutter and get more organized by digitizing your family memories, visit my post: 8 Ways Working Parents Can Declutter and Get More Organized.
Sign and Send Permission Slips on the Go
I love getting electronic copies of a permission slip for a class field trip instead of a paper ones. It’s so much easier to open it with Adobe Fill & Sign, fill out the required fields, sign it electronically right within the app, and send it back immediately. Another bonus is that since I have an electronic copy, I can always search Document Cloud for the permission slip before the trip to refresh my memory about important information like departure and arrival times and if I need to pack a bag lunch.
Protect Your Family’s Personal Information in Electronic Documents
With all the news of security hacks that have exposed our personal information, it’s important to safeguard family’s information. Malware that tricks you into downloading a program that steals your personal information, websites that take your information upon visiting, email spam, and intercepted digital documents can put your security at risk. Adobe Acrobat DC prevents others from copying or editing sensitive information in PDFs so you can rest assured that any personal identifying information and other confidential information in your electronic documents are always protected.
Archive Receipts for Tax Time
No one loves taxes but the honest truth is that if you keep up with your receipts, it can make tax time easier and free up more time to spend with your family as you approach April 15.Use the Adobe Scan app on your phone to easily scan and save receipts as soon as you get them. Adobe Scan can also find older receipts in your photo library automatically using Adobe Sensei. You’ll never have to scroll through hundreds of photos again to try to find receipts.You can even group receipts together and store as one PDF.
Create Searchable Editable Forms for School and Camp
Health forms, camp forms, your list of emergency contacts…The sheer number of forms that we parents have to fill out every year for our kids is endless. Multiply the number of forms times number of children you have and you could drown in paper! I have a tip: go paperless! When you receive a form that you know you’ll have to fill out the following year, snap a photo of it with your phone’s camera using the free Adobe Scan app, transform it into a PDF, and congratulations! You’ve just created a document that you can add a layer of text to meaning that you can find that same form in Document Cloud when you need it next year. Review it to update any outdated information and send it electronically. Now you can pat yourself on the back because you’ve saved yourself a hand cramp and streamlined forms once and for all.
Adobe Sign, Adobe Scan, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Fill & Sign are just some of the tools that I use that are part of Adobe Document Cloud that enable me to keep my work and family life organized at home, on the go, and wherever life may take me as a working mom.
Adobe Acrobat DC is available as a standard or pro subscription for individuals and multi-licenses can be purchased by businesses for team use. This helpful chart can assist you in figuring out what features and version is best to streamline your workflow and ensure efficiency from anywhere you may be working.
For more information about Adobe Document Cloud:
- Visit the Adobe Acrobat DC website
- Download Adobe Scan from the iTunes Store or Google Play
- Read the Adobe Acrobat DC blog
- Follow @AdobeDocCloud on Twitter
This post and the accompanying video was sponsored by Adobe Document Cloud but all opinions are my own and based on personal opinion.
