You've got a busy life. Work, school, social gatherings, family time — there's a lot to pack into one day.

Technology is here to save you. While unwinding can sometimes mean putting away the gadgets, there are plenty of ways that a few apps can actually simplify your life.

Here are nine free, quick-step apps to make your life less complicated.

See also: These 11 Apps Will Supercharge Your Personal Life

Image: Calm

Sometimes we forget how to stop and breathe. Calm is a meditation app that helps you scoop out time just to be still. It accompanies your zen sessions with beautiful photographs and soothing music, for maximum namaste time.

Available for iOS.

Image: 30/30

Here's the 30/30 rule: For any task you want to accomplish, focus on it intently for 30 minutes, and then take a 30-minute break. This app is a dressed-up version of a timer, helping you to organize your tasks and stay on track.

Available for iOS.

Image: Cal

If you rely heavily on your smartphone, your calendar is probably chock-full of items. Cal is an aesthetically pleasing calendar with integrated functions that tie in your contacts and social media accounts.

Available for iOS and Android.

The weather isn't always beautiful, but this app is. Solar has a simple yet visually appealing interface that tells you the forecast for the day.

Available for iOS and Android.

Image: iRecycle

If you want to step up your recycling game, check out this app. After typing in your location, it shows you where to go to recycle nearly anything — from old devices such as batteries and phones, to everyday items such as plastic cups. You can also connect to your social networks and show everyone just how green you are.

Available for iOS and Android.

Image: InsaSize

This is an Instagram user's best friend. InstaSize allows you to resize photos and add customizable borders. It also has its own filters, making it a one-stop shop for simple photo editing.

Available for iOS and Android.

Image: Romantimatic

Romance — there's an app for that. Romantimatic reminds you to say nice things to your significant other when you're swamped up in your own busy life. You can pick from a plethora of automated messages (including the "all-time classics" section: "I love you," "I miss you" and "You make me happy"), then just set it and forget it.

Available for iOS.

Image: RedLaser

RedLaser is a bargain-hunting app. Use it to scan barcodes on items while shopping, and it'll pull up price comparisons from other stores. You'll be able to see what that same product costs elsewhere, making for quick and practical shopping.

Available for iOS, Android and Windows Phones.

Ever lose track of all the interesting articles you want to read in a day? Try Pocket, an organizational tool that allows you to save links and read them later, even if you're not connected to Wi-Fi. It also syncs with all of your devices, so you've got your reading list with you everywhere you go.

Available for iOS and Android.