Well, today is New Year’s Eve, which means that in addition to gearing up for celebrating the last of the old and the beginning of the new, many of you are likely prepping to start your New Year’s resolution. Whether you’re kicking an old habit, starting a new one or simply trying to improve your life with minor changes, we’ve got a handful of apps that are bound to help you stay on track throughout the year, no matter what your goal.
This year you want to…Quit a bad habit or Start a New Habit
Whether you’re trying to quit something addictive like smoking or start a new habit, like eating fruit instead of sweets, the key to habits is repetition, which requires not only motivation but reminders. One of the best free apps for reminders and helpful hints to start or quit any habit is Lift. Available on both
iTunes and
Google Play, this app requires a net connection but will provide you with personalized reminders and coaching throughout the year!
This year you want to…Work Out, Lose Weight or Be Healthy
There are two different ways you can lose weight and be healthy: exercise more and eat less. While there are a slew of apps for tracking exercises and providing exercise routines for just about everyone, the best calorie counter I’ve tried is MyFitness Pal’s Calorie Counter. Part of the MyFitness Pal suite, not only does this convenient counter work really well to help you keep track of how much you’re eating and when, but it also syncs with their various other exercise apps for an all-inclusive experience. Oh, and it’s free. You can get it for
iOS or
Android.
This year you want to…Learn a New Skill
Learning a new language is the most common skill that people strive for and you don’t have to fork out $300 for Rosetta Stone to do it (although, if you have it, Rosetta is pretty much amazing). Duolingo is a free app that can start you on the path to learning Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, Dutch, Danish and, of course, English. You can get it for
iOS or
Android, and it’s a great stepping stone.
If you’re thinking more along the lines of learning in general, then check out Khan Academy, available for
iTunes and
Windows with a sort of unofficial companion video app for Android. You can also check it out online. There are a variety of classes and subjects on everything from Algebra I to particle physics and robotics, so you can really learn a little bit about just about anything for free. It’s pretty much amazing.
This year you want to…Stress Less
Life in general can be extremely stressful, especially in this fast-paced world that we live in. If you’re goal is to stress less, then why not try your hand at some relaxing meditation? It takes a bit of practice, but with some patience you will be surprised at how much it can help. The app Headspace can lead you through guided exercises and help you learn this ancient art. It’s available for free from
iTunes and
Google Play.
If meditation isn’t really your thing, then try starting a journal where you can record all of your minor frustrations and all of the exciting events. Not only will it help clear your mind, but you’ll have something fun to look back on in the coming year. Day One is an excellent quick journal app for your iPhone which allows you to record quick notes and thoughts along with pictures and such. Memoires is pretty much the same thing for Android.
What are some of your must-have apps to help with goals and resolutions? Let me know in the comments!]]>
