My Christmas gift this year was an iPhone. I usually get one of the free upgrade phones when it's time, but I found they are too limiting in what I can accomplish, and I didn't like moving back and forth from my computer to the iPad all the time, so I treated myself to a phone that isn't just a phone. And then I went slightly app crazy.
I like apps. They can make life a little more convenient. Granted, they can also suck time away if one is not careful. I tried to ensure that any apps I downloaded contribute to my resolutions in some way. But there was one app that I have wanted for a while: Charity Miles.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Charity Miles, the concept is pretty simple. You choose a charity before your workout begins. The app tracks your distance based on GPS, and companies donate to the charity you chose based on your distance traveled. After the walk/run is over, the app tells you what impact your workout had. For instance, I walked a little over a mile this morning, and Humana donated money for 2.5 puppy or kitten vaccinations to the ASPCA. I got a decent little workout and a couple of kittens will be healthier because of it.
When I got home, I posted about it on Facebook. One of my many cousins downloaded the app and told me that we could form a team. My husband and I walk with a neighbor several nights a week, so if all of us made a team, we could make bigger contributions. I'd walk more often and farther knowing it made a significant difference. It encourages me to be healthier, too. Win/win.
Another charity app I found looking for Free Rice (which isn't there), is HungerCrunch. It's a Super Mario Bros. style game where companies contribute according to how many points you make and how many hunger thugs you smash. Makes waiting a little more tolerable.
TwoGrand is a meal and activity tracking app that lets you use all those photos you took of your meals. You don't have to track calories (a nasty trigger for me), and it includes goals that you can check each day. I will admit, knowing I will have to log a meal encourages me to eat healthier and snack less (do I really want to take a picture of these chocolates?). And the goal checks help.
As for spiritual improvement, I found the FaithLife Bible study app. It comes with the Lexham English translation, which I'm not familiar with, but you can purchase other translations in-app if you choose. There are daily reading plans based on subject, which is nice, and a daily verse graphic. And explanatory notes to help understand context. You can join groups as well, should you choose.
As for daily planning apps, I found Paperless. It's a very simple planning app that allows you to make various lists under different files. I made a file for every day as well as for my resolutions and my daily goals. I can check things off (which is deeply gratifying) and move tasks from day to day pretty easily. It doesn't track anything or make graphs of your efficiency (I don't need an app to tell me I'm not exactly efficient), but it does include little graphics that you can add to the file names. Another oddly gratifying detail. And the background images are nice, too.
Google Inbox. It organizes your emails into different categories, and you can swipe individual emails or a whole day's category "Done" with another gratifying flick of the finger. You can also mark something with a reminder, and pin emails that you don't want to discard. And you can add categories.
And one more fun app I found was Lumosity. I've been using Rosetta Stone's Fit Brain for a few weeks on the iPad, but I wanted something different. The tasks are fun and challenging, and the three games per day on the free app are worth it. I will admit, though, that Fit Brain tracks my progress better and I like the way it compares my progress to others. For some reason, this is where I get competitive.
Oh, and Words with Friends. Competitive there, too. I've discovered the Solo Play option.
And of course Netflix and Pandora. So happy Netflix added more Poirot!
Since most of these apps help me focus on my resolutions and goals, I don't easily forget and it's easier to keep them.
I will need all the help I can get!
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