5 apps to help you conquer your New Year’s resolutions and 2022 goals

December 30, 2021

By Kim Komando

Most people start the new year vowing to make it better than the year before. After the 12 tumultuous months we just went through, that should be a piece of cake. There are all sorts of ways to set yourself up for success, from planning to reach professional goals to taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

Putting together an improvement plan is half of the battle; the second half comes down to actually sticking to that plan.

Whether it’s a lack of determination or forgetfulness, it can be tough to achieve these resolutions. That’s why you should harness the power of technology to make sure you actually fulfill your resolutions for 2022. Here are a few apps you can use to keep yourself accountable throughout the upcoming year.

1. Get a good night’s sleep

The power of restful sleep is often underestimated, but it is a vital aspect of a healthy body and mind. Not getting enough sleep can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure or stroke.

Other studies have found that not getting enough sleep can cause obesity, depression or impairment in immunity. That’s why it’s time to take sound sleep seriously. If you are a problem sleeper, these apps can lend a hand.

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Our favorite option for iPhones

For iPhone or iOS devices, we recommend the Endel app. The three main components of the app target focus, sleep and relaxation. By creating personalized soundscapes, it aims to reduce stress, boost productivity and encourage calming sleep.

Endel is available on the App Store with a weeklong free trial. After the first seven days, you’ll need to subscribe and pay for continued access.

The best sleep app for Android users

Of the many options Android users have, our favorite is the Loóna app. Available on the Google Play Store, it describes itself as “a mood-altering app that prepares you emotionally for going to sleep.” The app uses different sounds, stories and activity-based relaxation to drift you away into dreamland gently.

Just like Endel, Loóna offers a free trial of a week but requires purchase access if you want to continue using it. It’s a good idea to try the app before you commit to paying for the yearly subscription.

What about a free option? We really like SleepyTi.me. It’s a sleep calculator that helps you find the best time to go to bed and wake up based on your body’s natural sleep cycles. Tap or click here to try it.

2. Boost productivity

Maybe you want to get more work done in 2022. If you tend you get distracted, try an app specifically designed to keep you on track. Here’s one good tip to keep in mind.

It is always a smart idea to have the mobile version of your online meeting service downloaded to your phone. You never know when your internet at home will fail. For instance, if you tend to use Google Chat for video calls on your desktop, download the corresponding app to your smartphone as a backup option.

Want more tips like this? Tap or click here for 10 digital life hacks you’ll use time and again.

If you want an all-in-one workspace app, you can’t do better than Notion

This app is for both iOS and Android. It even comes with its own widgets you can use on your home screen to create hubs with all the important things in your life.

For example, you can create a dashboard with links to different tasks you’re working on. Since it’s on your main screen, this lets you pick up tasks from where you left off. The widget feature isn’t available on iPhones, but Apple users have a lot to love.

Regardless of your smartphone type, you can:

• Collaborate in real-time
• Create documents with images, to-do lists, code and more
• Organize information by nesting pages inside folder
• Drag and drop notes, documents and tasks for easy organization
• Publish pages to the web

Even better, you can sync your app with your browser, Mac or Windows app so you can work and stay on track wherever you are.

3. Get a good workout

After all the holiday feasting, you may think to yourself, “Next year I’m going to finally get into shape!” It’s hard to actually get around to exercising, especially if you live a less-than-active lifestyle. Prevent push-up procrastination by downloading the perfect workout app to keep you healthy and full of energy.

Adidas Training – Home Workout is a great app, no matter your current fitness level. It helps you plan and keep track of your routines for activities like yoga, boxing or strength building through short workout explanations.

The app is free to install on Android and iOS devices but offers in-app purchases for a premium experience.

To work up a sweat for iOS devices, Wakeout! – Movement therapy is something slightly different from other apps that you might be used to. Designed for sedentary people, the app features short exercises that you can do no matter where you are.

From quick tapping routines that only take a minute to something a bit more intense, the workouts are perfect for office-bound professionals. The app is free to try for seven days but requires a monthly paid subscription to continue.

4. Gaze at the stars

If 2021 taught us anything, it would probably be to enjoy the outdoors more — during the day and at night.

To look up at the sky and make sense of it all, try an app to guide you. Out of all the star apps available, we recommend Star Tracker for both iOS and Android. The app shows you where all the celestial bodies are, including all the planets, over 8,000 visible stars, 88 constellations and over 100 deep space objects using augmented reality.

The full-featured app is available for free on both operating systems but is ad-supported. For the full version, you’ll have to shell out $2.99. Getting rid of ads just costs 99 cents, according to the App Store.

RELATED: Find constellations, planets and more with this unbelievable sky map

5. Test your brain power

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but a puzzle game will keep your mind as sharp as a tack. Whether you are sitting on public transport or waiting in a meeting, puzzle game apps are a great way to exercise your brain.

For iOS and Android devices, we recommend you try Brain Test: Tricky Puzzles by Unico Studio. Designed to work best on an iPad, the game has some seriously tricky brain teasers. Ranging from riddles to word searches and quizzes, it will stretch the limits in your thinking.

The free version is ad-supported, and the game features in-app purchases.