I am a huge proponent of habit. Developing routines and sticking to them has changed the course of my life — truly! To some, committing to the same actions day in and day out may seem repetitive or boring. I find the opposite to be true. True freedom comes from discipline. If I meet my basic daily needs, I create room for more joy and opportunity in my life. For years, I relied on tracking tools like notebooks and spreadsheets to organize my habits. Apps have taken the place of nearly all those analog tools — which frees up even more space! These are the six tools and apps I used throughout 2021 to keep myself on track. With so many available, and more coming on the market every day, it can be difficult to sort through reviews and choose the best. These are tried and tested by me. (And no, I’m not receiving any sort of compensation. I just find them very useful.)
My pre-pandemic travel schedule kept me hopping from place to place. When life slowed down, I was determined to keep moving — and Fitbit keeps me accountable. The app that comes with the Fitbit device does it all: It measures my steps, sleep time and quality, heart rate, warns me when my stress levels are hitting a new high, and helps me determine my readiness for exercise by monitoring my energy. HidrateSpark This clever water bottle-and-app combo syncs with my Fitbit and monitors my hydration throughout the day. If my temperature rises, or if I work out, it prompts me to drink more water. As someone who struggled for years with chronic dehydration, this app has been a godsend. Gratitude
Study after study has shown that gratitude can make you healthier and happier. I’ve been practicing gratitude — giving thanks is definitely a practice, much like yoga or playing the piano — for many years. This app makes it simple:
Every evening, I type in three things I’m grateful for. Just recently, I upped my gratitude game by adding three wins from the day. You can also try in-app challenges, like practicing gratitude for seven days, journaling, or using their daily affirmations. Try it! Gratitude will enrich your life and open the door to even more good things.
Muse
Ready to get really high tech? The Muse headband bills itself as a multi-sensor meditation device. Wrap the device around your head and it will measure your breathing, heart rate, and brain activity. You can then use this information to sink into deeper and deeper states of meditation. It’s a bit pricy, but if you’re a serious meditator it is worth the splurge.
Lumen
You’ve probably heard that you need carbs to fuel your exercise, but you also need to burn fat for energy in order to lose weight. Lumen takes the guesswork out of eating. It looks like a Breathalyzer and works like one — but instead of measuring how much alcohol is in your system, it gives you a snapshot of the carbs, fats, and proteins in your body. You then received suggestions tailored to your body’s needs. For example, you might need to eat more protein or cut down on carbs for the day. Lumen’s benefits include weight loss, better blood sugar, and fewer energy dips. Using it regularly is changing my eating and my health.
Cronometer
This is another app that puts a holistic focus on nutrition. You just input your weight, height, age, and gender, and it gives you a tailored target for everything from fat intake to Vitamin A. This is the perfect app for data-driven dieters who prefer stats and metrics to general guidelines. Plus, it’s easy to use and requires no wearable devices. And, as a proud Canadian, I’m always happy to support entrepreneurs from my own country.
Have you tried any of these? I’d love to know what you think! Let me know in the comments.