We’re officially a month into the new year. How are those resolutions going?
By February many of us have chosen to put our New Year’s resolutions on the back burner in favor of the old and familiar. But what if I told you that the key to living your best life is located right inside your back pocket? Would you give it a try?
Let’s be real. In 2015, cell phones can often feel like life partners. They’re the first ones to wake us up, are always there when we need a question answered, and they ensure that we make that weekly phone call to mom. They play supporting roles in many aspects of our lives; and it should be no different when it comes to meeting your resolutions.
Whether it’s shaving off those last five pounds, establishing a rainy day fund, or spicing up your love life, as far as reaching your goals is concerned, consider your smartphone your new BFF.
Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite road-tested apps to keep you on task regardless of the goal.
Wake up refreshed: Sleep Cycle
Have you ever woken up feeling like an extra in the “Walking Dead” despite physically being in bed for the right amount of hours the night before? While you’re dozing off, your body drifts from light sleep to deep sleep, and occasionally enters a dream state called REM-sleep. When your alarm clock goes off, it never takes these sleep phases into consideration—resulting in lots of groggy mornings. That’s where Sleep Cycle comes in. With tons of science know-how, the app detects optimal times to awaken you from your slumber—leaving you refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Get your finances in order: BillGuard
Got money on the brain? Ease your budget blues with BillGuard. Think of BillGuard as a one stop shop for all things finance. The app offers a host of features guaranteed to help you take control of your spending. Some of our favorites include: tracking where and how you spend your money with their map tool; suspicious charge alerts; and best of all, BillGuard will scour the web for bill lowering coupons based on past spending patterns!
Share the love: Grazie
If your goal deals with giving, then I’ve got the app for you! Grazie is a fast and easy way to spread some good cheer through the power of positivity at the tap of an app. Whenever you enter a Grazie location, the app syncs with your phone and displays an employee list. Were you impressed by outstanding service? Simply grant a Grazie (a compliment for a job well done) to your favorite employee. The results are: a happy associate, happy customer, and happy employer. Sounds like a win-win-win!
Learn another language: Duolingo
It’s never too late to brush up on that language requirement from high school or learn a new language entirely! Duolingo makes it easy to learn nine different languages in a digestible game-like format. Even better, the app lets you target specific areas like comprehension or speaking.
Resolve to spend less time in traffic: Waze
The average American spends 38 hours a year stuck in traffic. Resolve to break the odds with Waze. Waze is a traffic and navigation app that crowd-sources real-time traffic and road info. The app notifies you of traffic jams, accidents, and speed cameras—allowing users to save valuable time and gas money.
Do mental aerobics: Headspace
Headspace is a personal trainer for your mind. Use the app for daily exercises designed to clear your head, help you stress less and meditate more. With Headspace, a healthier, happier, more enjoyable life is just a few clicks away.
Boost your productivity: Checky
How many times a day do you check your phone? If you’re anything like me, probably a lot more than you’d care to admit. Consider how much more productive you’d be if you swapped all of that time spent checking Instagram on nobler pursuits like taking an actual photography course. Checky helps regulate your phone use by monitoring the number of times you grab your cell. Pick up your phone less and pick up a new hobby instead!
Pump up your daily routine: PumpUp
There are tons of people looking to get fit in 2015, and just as many apps designed to help you meet your goals; but few are like PumpUp. PumpUp merges the best aspects of your favorite social networks like photo sharing, favoriting, and status updates; and fuses them with functional fitness in a comprehensive app. Want to target a specific muscle group? The app will put together a series of workouts to kickstart your metabolism. Put simply, PumpUp is your favorite social network’s favorite gym buddy.
Spice up your love life: Hinge
Let’s be honest. Everyone has their fair share of first date horror stories. Dating can be tough, but like most things these days there’s an app to fix that. Hinge is an app that plays matchmaker with you and your friends’ friends. Each day Hinge hand delivers singles to your cell phone based on your social circles. Each suggested match comes with valuable information like workplace and mutual friends—ensuring that no randos intercept your smartphone. So, how about it? Are you ready to swipe right on love?
How are your resolutions coming along? Are there any apps that we may have missed? Share them in the comments section! Now, on you mark! Get set! Goal!
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