Ever stare at your iPad and think, “Am I actually using this thing to its full potential?” I’ve been there too. For years, my iPad sat on my desk like a glorified Netflix machine—beautiful, but under-appreciated. Then one day, I made it my mission to actually explore what this slab of glass could do. Spoiler: it turned out to be way more useful than I ever imagined.
If you’re like me, you want your gadgets to pull their weight—whether for productivity, creativity, entertainment, or just simplifying your everyday life. That’s exactly what this guide is about. Let’s dive into seven surprisingly practical ways you can use your iPad every day, even if it’s old or not the latest Pro edition.
1. Turn Your iPad Into a Personal Digital Planner
I used to juggle paper planners, sticky notes, screenshots, and random app reminders. It was chaos. One day I opened a digital planner template on GoodNotes—and suddenly my iPad became my brain’s BFF.
With apps like Notability, GoodNotes, Noteshelf, or even Apple Notes, you can:
- Create weekly spreads
- Track habits
- Organize goals
- Save receipts
- Plan meals
The handwriting experience feels shockingly natural with the Apple Pencil. You can doodle, drag stickers, rearrange pages, or link sections together. It’s like a binder that never gets messy.
And here’s the best part: digital planning sticks because it’s satisfying. Checking off tasks on a screen feels good. Your iPad becomes less of a screen—and more of a life command center.
So if you’ve ever thought, “I’m not organized enough,” your iPad might be the missing piece.
2. Use It As a Dedicated Second Display
If you work on a laptop, you’ll get this: one screen never feels enough. Having your email, notes, or timelines constantly buried behind windows feels like digital clutter. Enter Sidecar (Mac users) or Duet Display (Windows users).
In minutes, your iPad becomes:
- A calendar screen
- A Zoom dashboard
- A live reference monitor
- A dedicated chat or to-do list panel
This one feature boosted my productivity instantly. FYI, I even dragged Spotify to mine so I could skip songs without minimizing anything—tiny quality-of-life upgrade that feels luxurious. 😄
Plus, older iPads work fine for this. So if you thought your old Gen-2 or Mini is useless—nope, it’s a hidden productivity upgrade.
3. Turn It Into a Smart Home Controller Hub
I didn’t appreciate this until I got tired of opening ten apps every time I wanted to adjust something:
Lights? Philips Hue.
Camera? Arlo.
Music? Spotify.
Thermostat? Nest.
With an iPad set up on your counter—suddenly everything is centralized.
Here’s what mine controls:
- Smart lights
- AC temperature
- Camera feeds
- Smart doorbell alerts
- Home scenes (e.g., “movie mode”)
If you have Apple HomeKit, Alexa, or Google Home—it’s even better.
Just prop your iPad on a cheap stand and boom: you have a home command tablet people pay hundreds to replicate.
Imagine tapping a button titled “Good Night” and your house handles the rest. Practical? Absolutely.
4. Use It As a Creative Studio for Sketching, Writing, or Editing
People seriously underestimate how powerful iPads are for creativity.
Whether you’re:
- Journaling
- Painting digitally
- Designing Pinterest pins
- Editing TikToks
- Writing blog posts
The iPad gives a tactile feel that a laptop just doesn’t.
Apps worth exploring:
• Procreate for sketching
• Affinity Designer for vector art
• LumaFusion for video editing
• Final Draft / Scrivener for writing
• PicsArt or Canva for graphic creation
The Apple Pencil elevates everything. IMO, it turns your iPad into a portable design studio. It’s like owning a sketchbook, camera rig, and mini laptop all in one.
Ask yourself: What hobby have I been “wanting to start one day”? Your iPad might be the perfect starter tool.
5. Repurpose It As a Kitchen Assistant
This one changed my daily routine more than expected. I set my old iPad on the kitchen counter and suddenly it became:
- A recipe screen
- A music player
- A timer panel
- A note board
Instead of dirtying my phone with messy fingers, I scroll recipes with my knuckles (pro tip!). I store shopping lists, cooking videos, and even household maintenance reminders.
Popular apps here include:
- Paprika
- Yummly
- Notes / Reminders
- Anylist
- YouTube
Your kitchen literally becomes smarter without you buying any “smart kitchen display.”
Bonus use? Video call family while you cook. It’s surprisingly wholesome.
6. Use It As an Education or Learning Companion
Want to learn Spanish? Piano? Coding? Cooking? Photography? Meditation?
iPads are absolute learning machines.
Picture this:
- You download Duolingo to learn a language.
- Stream Skillshare or Udemy lessons.
- Watch YouTube how-to videos.
- Read guides on Kindle or Apple Books.
Suddenly idle scrolling becomes productive screen time.
Some days I prop mine beside me during workouts or meditations—like having a calm instructor whispering directions without my phone buzzing with distractions.
Learning doesn’t feel “forced” when it’s cozy on a big screen.
And with children? iPads become educational gold mines—not babysitters, but tools for reading, creative play, and interactive learning.
7. Turn It Into Your Daily Entertainment Station
Okay, this sounds obvious—but wait.
There’s a difference between occasionally streaming Netflix and turning your iPad into an intentional entertainment center.
Here’s how I upgraded mine:
- Downloaded Spotify + created mood playlists
- Added Kindle, Apple Books, Wattpad for reading
- Used Twitch and YouTube for hobby content
- Installed podcast apps for cooking and driving
Soon entertainment became more curated, and less “scroll and hope for something fun.”
Extra fun uses?
- Stand it on your treadmill for workout videos
- Watch tutorials while crafting
- Keep it near your desk for background ambience
Your iPad becomes a portable cinema, library, radio, and gaming tablet—without needing a TV.
So yeah… the entertainment value? WAY more than just binge-watching shows.
Bonus: A Few Extra Small but Awesome Uses
Because I couldn’t stop at seven 😄
• Digital photo frame
• Dedicated recipe book
• Kids drawing pad
• Travel-friendly Netflix screen
• Desk notification center
These don’t need entire sections—but don’t overlook them. Small uses often add surprising convenience.
Does It Still Matter If My iPad Is Old?
Short answer—100% YES.
I use an old iPad Mini 4 for cooking, and an older iPad Pro 10.5 as a planner. You don’t need the newest model for most of these tasks.
Just update it where possible, reset old clutter, and load apps suited to its capabilities. You’ll be shocked at how useful aging tech can be.
Final Thoughts — Your iPad Is More Capable Than You Think
Let’s recap the surprisingly useful roles your iPad can play:
- Digital planner and life organizer
- Second monitor
- Smart home hub
- Creative studio
- Kitchen assistant
- Learning companion
- Entertainment hub
Kind of wild that one device can do all that, right?
So here’s my friendly challenge:
👉 Take your iPad right now.
👉 Assign it one purpose from this list.
👉 Use it for 24 hours.
You’ll likely return thinking, “Wow, this thing is actually awesome.”
Technology is only as useful as we make it—and sometimes, all it takes is reframing how you see a device you already own.
Now go dust off that iPad and give it a life upgrade—it deserves better than sitting in a drawer. 😉
