There are a lot of apps out there that can help you improve your life and well-being. It’s hard to know where to start, so we’ve done the work for you: we’ve put together a list of our favorite apps for self-improvement.
We did some research and tried out a lot of different apps over the past year (and even longer), and we feel confident recommending these five apps as great places to start. We’re talking about everything from mindfulness to meditation, from gratitude journals to gratitude apps, from goal setting to goal tracking. We even threw in a few random ones for good measure—like an app that teaches you how many calories are in certain foods (because who doesn’t want to know that?)
Each one has its own strengths—and each one will help you get closer to whatever it is that makes your heart sing (or at least helps prevent a meltdown).
Best Apps For Self Improvement
When it comes to thoughts of self-improvement around this time of year, tell me if this is a familiar sequence of statements:
December: “Ah, the holiday season. The last hurrah before diet time, am I right?”
January: “New year, new me. Look out, 2022… Here. I. Come.”
Still January: “Life is hard.”
If it sounds like something you’re already going through, don’t feel bad. This says only 9% are successful in achieving their resolutions.
What’s the issue and how do we improve?
Well, life is in fact very hard. We have priorities. We have needs. Food tastes good. Working out is a commitment.
What could help?
You’ve heard the saying “out of sight, out of mind,” right? So, then do the opposite.
Meaning first, put your resolutions out there for others to see. Tell your friends your goals, update your family on progress, etc. These are great first steps in your journey towards staying motivated for the new year, and achieving that “new you” you so badly covet.
Why? This holds you accountable. How? Because the only thing worse than failing your resolutions is telling anyone willing to listen about your lofty goals one week, and then completely going off the rails the next. You’ll be seen as crying wolf, making it all the more difficult to earn support in the future.
Second, do whatever you can to keep resolutions top of mind – throughout your day – rather than only thinking about them in times of vulnerability.
For instance, it’s tough to turn down pizza when you’re starving, and it’s tough to get up in the morning for the gym when you’re tired.
But instead, if you’re using an app to track your calories during the day, you’re mentally setting yourself up to know you only have 500 of them left for dinner—taking pizza completely out of the question before you even have time to consider it. Likewise, if you’re tracking your sleep habits and buying into daily progress, you’re more likely to go to bed at 10PM instead of Netflix-binging past midnight.
What I’m really saying is, you don’t have to be part of the 9%! First, set a goal, then tell people about it, and last, find a helpful app to keep you on pace.
The first two steps are easy, and we are here to assist with the third.
With a suite of worthy mobile apps just begging to be downloaded, you’ll soon be on your way to eating healthier, reading more, exercising regularly, and/or picking up a new passion, goal, or even career.
Let technology make your life easier in 2022.
Self-Improvement Apps
MyFitnessPal (to eat healthier)
Couch to 5K (to get active)
Any.do (to become more organized)
Headspace (to be “present” more)
DietBet (to lose weight)
Skillshare (to find a new hobby)
Strides (to achieve a specific goal)
SimpleHabit (to meditate)
Indeed (to find a new job)
Mint (to save more money)
Super Food (to eat a healthier diet)
Scribd (to read more)
Babbel (to learn a new language)
Glassdoor (to research new opportunities)
Work and Rest (to remember to take breaks)
Share the Meal (to fight world hunger)
The Week (to stay informed)
bPunctual (to be on time)
Daily Water Tracker (to stay hydrated)
HabitBull (to quit a bad habit)
Endel (to get better sleep)
New Year’s Resolution Tracker (to track resolutions)
MyFitnessPal (iOS & Android)
If you want to eat healthier, you must first understand what you’re currently consuming. MyFitnessPal tracks daily meals and snacks to help you reach your goals. You can record exercise activities, track daily/monthly progress, see a breakdown of the day’s nutrition, and set measurable goals. (Warning, you’ll be shocked at how much sodium is in basically everything.) Download: iOS or Android
Couch to 5k (iOS & Android)
Experts say the best way to achieve a goal is to break it down into smaller steps. That’s just what this app does! With Couch to 5k ($2.99), anyone – yes, anyone – can train to run a 5k. You start small (think alternating rounds of jogging and walking) with thrice-weekly workouts that last about 30 minutes. By the end of the nine-week plan, you’ll be jogging through the finish line. Download: iOS or Android
Any.do (iOS & Android)
Track your tasks, and then get them done. With Any.do (free), you can add reminders, notes, and files that are accessible on all devices—meaning you can manage your to-do list from home or on-the-go. The clean and simple interface makes it easy to get started, which is one of the hardest parts of completing any goal. Premium plans are available. Download: iOS or Android
Headspace (iOS & Android)
According to the app, “headspace is a gym membership for your mind.” In reality, it offers guided meditations that last ten minutes; perfect for busy parents. The app is lauded for helping reduce stress and anxiety while improving creativity and focus—all benefits of meditation. After completing Take10, the beginner’s course, you can upgrade to a paid plan. Download: iOS or Android
DietBet (iOS & Android)
You can tell what a person loves by looking where they spend their money. DietBet uses money to motivate people to make healthy decisions. The concept is simple: bet money on how much weight you think you can lose, and get paid for meeting your goals. According to the app, “96% of players lose weight, and winners take home an average of $58!” I like those odds. Download: iOS or Android
Skillshare (iOS & Android)
With literally thousands of classes on everything from using Photoshop to designing T-shirts to painting a cow with acrylics (yes, really), Skillshare makes it easy to discover a new hobby or brush up on old skills. Watch classes via the app for on-the-go inspiration. While some classes are offered for free, you can upgrade to monthly or annual plans for complete access. Download: iOS or Android
Strides (iOS)
Perhaps this will be the year you finally travel to Iceland to see the northern lights. Or the year when you finally learn to change your own tires. Whatever your goal is, you can achieve it with Strides (free). Track goals and habits, review your progress in the form of fancy graphs, and accomplish anything you’ve set out to do. Users especially love the application’s clean, user-friendly appearance. Download: iOS
SimpleHabit (iOS & Android)
SimpleHabit, the self-proclaimed meditation app for busy people, offers free, five-minute exercises that are easy to squeeze into tight schedules. Designed by meditation experts, the app contains a range of meditation and mindfulness resources. Users can select from a variety of situations, moods, and times of day for customized guided meditations. Download: iOS or Android
Indeed Job Search (iOS & Android)
Among the many different job search apps, we recommend Indeed’s entry simply because it boasts the most comprehensive search engine for jobs. Browse local gigs, and apply with your Indeed Resume if a specific job catches your interest. Now if only there was an app to walk you through the interview… Download: iOS or Android
Mint (iOS & Android)
Money might not grow on trees, but the fact that Mint costs absolutely nothing means there’s still good in the world. Seriously though, there are few tools as robust and simple to use as Mint. Log into the app to see your current financial snapshot, create and manage budgets, track savings goals, and ensure the water bill gets paid. Backed by Intuit, Mint is the real deal. Download: iOS or Android
Scribd (iOS & Android)
For those seeking a more literary 2022, Scribd is a great app and subscription service for books, magazines, newspapers, and audio content. Scribd has content for every reading and listening preference with a wide selection to choose from. With Scribd, it’s never been easier to get your hands on your next great read! Download: iOS or Android
Babbel (iOS & Android)
New year, new language! This platform provides expert, interactive language learning curriculum designed to fit into your day. Choose from dozens of languages and embrace the joy of learning something new or building on those rusty high school skills! Download: iOS or Android
HabitBull (iOS)
According to Lifehacker, HabitBull “packs all [habit-building tricks] in a gorgeous, free, cross-platform app.” Use the mobile application to track goals (and habits you want to quit), set up notifications, and participate on the forums. View your progress in handy graphs that motivate you to keep moving forward. Download: iOS
Work and Rest (Android)
In these crazy times, knowing when to hit the pause button is more important than ever. Now, remembering to actually do that is a lot easier said than done! The Work and Rest app is a useful way to build in daily reminders to step away from screens, your to-do list, or whatever else stands in the way of helping your brain take five (or 30, or whatever you need!) Download Android.
Share the Meal (iOS and Android)
This app makes it easy to help end world hunger. For 80 cents per day, Share The Meal supports communities around the world through the UN World Food Programme. Download: iOS or Android
Super Food (iOS and Android)
Not all food-related goals are tied to weight loss! Sometimes, it’s just about making healthier choices for energy, longevity, and the countless other holistic benefits of nutritious eating habits. Super Food helps users find great recipes, ingredients, and the other essentials for a healthy diet. Download: iOS or Android
The Week (Android)
If you’re looking to keep up with current events without getting inundated with headlines, The Week might just be the right addition to your phone. This app summarizes the biggest stories of – you guessed it – the week from a variety of sources and perspectives. Download: Android
bPunctual (launches soon!)
Find yourself perpetually running 15 minutes late? bPunctual can help with that timeliness New Year’s resolution!
Glassdoor (iOS and Android)
An excellent repository of information and resources, Glassdoor is a must-have for those looking to switch things up in their careers. Unlike many other job-hunting sites, Glassdoor paints a picture of what it’s actually like to work at an organization with testimonials from current and former employees. Download: iOS or Android
Daily Water Tracker (iOS and Android)
Stronger immune systems, better sleep, more oxygen pumping through the body: the benefits of being well hydrated go on and on. But there’s no denying that it’s easy to let drinking water fall by the wayside of a busy schedule. This app will help you remember to stay hydrated and make it easier to reap all those amazing benefits. Download: iOS or Android
Endel (iOS & Android)
Sometimes, a good night’s sleep can feel more valuable than gold. Endel offers tools, resources, and exercises designed to help get better sleep, increase focus, and generally find a moment to chill in a hectic world. With Endel, everything from plane rides to a 10-minute break during the workday can become more peaceful. Download: iOS or Android
New Year’s Resolution Tracker (iOS)
Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like. This highly-rated app will help you track, customize, and reflect on your road to success. As one user noted, this tracker is an excellent “accountability partner” and opportunity to make progress in a way that’s authentic to you. Download: iOS
If your resolution isn’t listed here, don’t let that stop you—there really is an app for everything.
But with that little nugget said, there is always a better way to build a mousetrap.
If you have a child who is interested in developing mobile applications, be sure to check out our various online classes in coding and summer tech camps, including Java, Python, and more.
Students can build full iPhone and Android applications, design menus and interfaces for mobile games, test and debug applications, and learn HTML, and how CSS, and JavaScript can be used to create apps.
Did you know that iD Tech Alumnus Andrew R. published nine apps after attending iD Tech Camps and our coding academy, netting an impressive 50,000 app downloads?
self growth apps
With life being so busy, we all welcome things that can make things easier for us in any way. Enter the self-improvement apps that will change your life! Yes, that’s quite the bold statement, but honestly, some apps truly can be life-changing if used to their full advantage. And here are some of the ones that I think are worth considering if you’re looking for a self-improvement app that has the power to change your life for the better.
- The Self-improvement app for building better habits or breaking bad habits
When it comes to most things consistency is key. But we all know how hard it can be to stay consistent. That’s where a habit tracker comes in handy. Rather than struggling continuously to stay consistent. To improve your consistency build a habit around the things you want to be more consistent with, that way it will become second nature, like brushing your teeth.
Productive: My personal favorite is productive. It’s simple to use, has a well-designed interface, and you get to swipe when things are done which gives you a great sense of achievement. #smalljoys. You can also track lots of different habits a the same time and it’s still easy to view and track streaks.
While productive does give you a free trial period- you do have to pay.
Other apps for building good habits include:
Done
Habitica
Habitbull
Way of Life
- The Self-improvement apps for getting things done
Oh, the to-do list. Will it ever end?
Well, the reality is that you’ll likely never get to the end of your to-do list because you’ll always be adding to it. There will always be more to do in every aspect of your life. At home and at work.
While I’m a huge fan of good old pen and paper- ( stationary anyone??)
Swipes
I’m always on the lookout for anything that can help me stay on top of my own to-do list and so far, Swipes has been the most straight forward.
It was recommended by Nicole Rodrigues, Founder, and CEO of NRPR Group.
[Check out the interview with Nicole here]
Other Apps for getting things done include:
Todoist
Google Tasks
Tick Tick
- The Self-improvement apps for your health and fitness
While you may not be a fan of tracking your calories or activity level’s, there are some benefits:
You become more self-aware of what you’re actually eating. Seriously, this might sound strange, but it’s so easy to snack on things without realizing just how much you’re actually eating
Increasing your self-awareness about what your eating, how nutritious your diet is ( or not), and how much your eating can help you make better food choices. Like switching to dark chocolate instead of milk- because now I can eat as much as I want since it is healthy after all!
Tracking your food will help you to stay accountable for your health and
My Fitness Pal: MyFitnessPal is one of the best-known apps in this category. The great thing about it is how easy it is to add and track food since it has such a vast database. It’s rare that you won’t find something listed and the ability to scan items in makes it super easy.
Personally, I have used the app for years, although it has started to become a little advertising heavy unless you move to the pro version. Still, it’s worth giving it a go if you haven’t tried one yet.
Other fitness apps for health and fitness include:
Zombies, run!
Jefit
Fitbit
- The self-improvement app for the busy avid reader
Audible: If you love to read but don’t always have the time to sit down with a good book, then audible is definitely for you. Whether you’re in the car or at the gym. Of course, some books lend themselves better to the listening experience, like fiction over nonfiction. - The Self-improvement app to expand your mind
TED: If you’re not already addicted to TED Talks then getting the app will make you. Regardless of what you’re looking for, there’s a talk about it that will intrigue and sometimes blow your mind. - The Self improvement app to learn on the go
These days when it comes to learning, the options are endless. In addition to all the learning platforms available with every course you could imagine provided through E-Learning, I honestly think that podcasts are a great way to learn as well.
Whether it’s listening to a business podcast and learning new marketing trends or learning a step by step process for improving your public speaking as Tricia Brouk teaches in this episode, whatever it is you want to learn, there is most likely a podcast for it. And if you want to increase that general random knowledge check out this favorite of mine Stuff You Should Know
Listen to podcasts on any of the following and more:
Podcast Apps:
Apple Podcasts or
For Android: Spotify; Pocket casts, Tunein, Stitcher, and much more available!
The Self improvement app to stay organized and on top of things daily
- The Self improvement apps to track and save time
It often seems like the days just slip away. You get up, do a few things and suddenly you’re out of time. Where does all your time go! That’s where these apps come in.
If you want to get a handle on exactly where your tie is going, how you’re spending your time, and where you can starnd to be more efficient then these are the apps that can help.
Like any App category, there are lot’s of choices and full disclosure, I’ve been trying to track my time manually in my journal and planner. What this means is that I can’t see at the end of a given day or week a nice chart of how I’ve been spending my time and since I love a chart, I’ve now started using Lifecycle.
So- watch this space- I will update you and let you all know how it goes.
As well as Lifecycle, other time tracker Apps I considered include;
Lifecycle
Hours Time Tracking
Hours Tracker
There you have it. 7 great self-improvement apps that can change your life. Whether you want to be more productive, learn new skills, read more, or anything else for that matter – there’s an App for that and the ones listed are a great place to start.
Author Recent Posts
Antonette Oloo
Follow
Antonette Oloo
Antonette is the founder of She Owns Success the career and personal development site for women. Helping you to find work you love and become your best self so that that you can have more success, happiness, and fulfillment in your career and life.
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines