With summer at its peak, we’re using our phones for EVERYTHING. GPS for finding our way to the beach, camera for snapping family photos, and apps for everything from checking the weather to finding apple pie recipes. And, with so much riding on our phones, it’s extra important to keep our batteries up and at ‘em (even as the heat tries to suck them dry).

A few simple ways to extend your battery life:

1. Close unused apps. Apps running in the background can deplete your battery quickly (especially those that constantly seek WiFi connection) so turn off anything you aren’t using.
2. Reduce animations. Animation makes apps more fun and dynamic, but it also uses a ton of battery.
3. Swap live wallpaper for a photo. Again, animation = fun = dead battery.
4. Turn off data roaming and location services. Unless you’re actively using GPS apps to get somewhere, turn off geolocators. (Doublecheck sneaky settings like those used in Facebook.)
5. Optimize your Settings. Go to Settings and make a few tweaks that will save your battery:
   1. Reduce your screen brightness.
   2. Update your theme and wallpaper to a darker theme/image.
   3. Cut the time before your screen goes to sleep.
   4. Turn on power-saving mode.
   5. Turn off keyboard sounds and vibrations.
   6. Restrict apps that require a lot of power.

And as always, stay cool! Try to keep your phone out of direct sunlight (or even in a parked car) as it doesn’t take long for your phone to be unusable in the heat. If you’re at the beach or ballfield, try putting your phone in a waterproof bag or even Tupperware container and keep it in your cooler. That way it will be fresh, cool, and ready when you are!