It goes without saying that our lives were upended in major ways this 2020. Many of us had plans that got shafted, vacations that were canceled, and major life events that were postponed. Many of us have had to transition to remote work or homeschooling. It’s incredible to think that we went into 2020 with many plans to achieve specific goals or check some boxes off our bucket lists, but alas, COVID-19 got in the way.
But just because many of our plans changed, it doesn’t mean we have to give up completely. If you were hoping to shed some pounds, be more productive in your schooling or your career, maintain a healthy work-life balance, improve your sleeping habits, or buy a new house, you can still do so, despite the extremely stressful situation the world is in. We have technology at our disposal, and we need to maximize whatever tools and apps are available to us to help us achieve our goals.
Here are some apps you need to take advantage of in 2020 to make your life easier.
Instacart
Instacart is a grocery delivery and pick-up service app. In the age of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, an app like this can help users save time and energy, and protect themselves from crowd exposure or being infected by the virus.
Waking Up
Neuroscientist Sam Harris came up with the app Waking Up, which guides users through meditation and mindfulness practices. For people who need self-care and get their mind off stressful everyday concerns, Waking Up is a good way to center themselves daily before starting a new day.
HAPPY
HAPPY is a mental health community chat app that allows users who are struggling with depression and anxiety to connect with those who are going through the same things. The best part is that it’s anonymous, so for people who aren’t ready to publicly share about their lived experience but still want to talk about it, it’s the perfect place to touch base and know that they’re not alone.
Zillow
Zillow is an overall home buying app that allows interested buyers to tour potential houses even without an appointment or an agent because the homes can be unlocked through the app. They also have other apps under their umbrella—Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, which allows users to find excellent mortgage rates; Zillow Rentals, which is filled with rental listings in the United States; and Zillow Digs, a visual buffet that inspires homeowners and buyers to create their dream home with different designs and ideas.
Trello
For multitaskers, Trello is the perfect app since it allows users to create boards with rows for different stages of tasks or projects. It’s a good way to stay organized and on top of all the things you have to do during your day or your week. It’s not only available for individuals; it can also be used by teams and multiple users.
MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal has been around for a while and is commonly known as one of the best calorie counter apps in the market. And with good reason—users simply need to input their food consumption and the app computes the calories for them. It’s known for having the largest food database on the internet, which is so much easier and simpler than having to Google every single information about the food you eat. And one of its best features is that at end of the day, it gives users the total amount of calories consumed and a prediction of how much they will weigh in a few weeks if they continue their eating habits. It’s a great way to motivate oneself to eat better and more nutritiously.
Forest
The Forest app is a cute way for users to fight distraction and procrastination. When you activate the timer, a tree starts to grow onscreen. If you make it through that given time period without using your phone, a big tree emerges. When you give in to temptation and distraction, the tree dies and deadwood appears. It’s a motivating way to keep yourself focused. The best part is, Forest app partnered with the non-profit Trees of the Future to plant actual trees, so you’re not only helping yourself; you’re also saving the planet.
Make the Year Count
It’s been a rough year, but it doesn’t mean we have to surrender the fight. There are still a few months left into 2020, and there are still so many things we can do to reach our goals and be the healthiest version of ourselves. So take a deep breath and utilize technology to help make your life easier and reach your goals.
