My quarantine experience hasn’t been the most exciting, to say the least. Yet, I’ve compiled a list of apps I’ve used during the pandemic that has tripled my screen time, for better or for worse. 

No. 1: Strava

Strava is a free app with premium perks where you can track workouts and runs using GPS data. You can also follow your friends and check out their activities.

Let’s just say my Strava runs were one of the few motivators that got me out of bed during quarantine. By keeping up with my personal goals and many of Strava’s monthly challenges, I was able to maintain fitness and gain badges to display on my profile page.

It was also really nice to see my personal progress laid out on my own feed. The spark of motivation after a slow week was exactly what I needed to push myself and avoid the “Quarantine 15.”

No. 2: Genius Scan

Every single assignment I’ve submitted this school year has gone through Genius Scan. This life-saving app lets you compile pictures into a PDF or JPEG scan to upload to Canvas — for free.

Rather than settling for tilted, blurry pictures from a Camera Roll, Genius Scan expedited my submission process. The organization of the app is first rate, allowing you to easily keep track of your files. 

Of course, there are countless other apps with the same functionality, but Genius Scan was the one I stumbled upon, and it has a special place in my phone.

No. 3: Spotify

Spotify Premium, specifically — it is what it is. 

I’m not sure what I’d do without my good ol’ friend Spotify. Convenient access to my favorite music, updates on new releases, and amazing recommendations — what more could you ask for? 

Spotify has witnessed my highs and lows, and I know that whatever happens, I can rely on Spotify to be my personal therapist.

No. 4: “Among Us”

Who remembers the two-month “Among Us” craze? If you’re out of the loop, “Among Us’ is a social game where you deduce who the assassin is out of a group of 10 or fewer.

I remember the midnight sessions with the boys as we ejected one another from an imaginary spacecraft. We’d have the most absurd nicknames as we ran around in our respective colored suits. 

The game’s fate is truly tragic, going from the undisputed game of quarantine to a mere figment of the past. While it isn’t the same anymore, I’ll never forget the two months we spent together. Rest in peace, “Among Us.” 

No. 5: Zoom

No, I’m not talking about Zoom on the computer. I’m talking about the mobile app.

I’m sure we’ve all experienced some sort of Wi-Fi issues this year, and if you haven’t, please let me know and we can connect.

When my Wi-Fi has failed, the Zoom app has come to the rescue where, despite the terrible audio quality and minuscule screens, I can salvage the remains of online class through my spotty cellular data.

Although this past year has forced me to adapt in more ways than one, these apps made the transition much smoother, and I can’t imagine what quarantine life would be like without them.