New Year’s resolutions can be tough to keep. Here’s a helpful reminder: Being a better version of yourself is not synonymous with a glamorised version filled with impossible dreams. It’s about finding what makes you happier at the moment, even if it takes romanticising the little things in life. Sometimes, that is way harder to channel than you thought, which is why technological assistance can be really useful!
These mobile applications are free and fun. In mere taps, they keep you engaged by turning difficult tasks into simple enjoyments. Glow up inside and out in the coming new year with your newfound tech buddies!
Self-Care
Amaru
At first glance, this app may seem like any other virtual pet app out there, but it sets itself apart by doubling as a self-care app. By completing self-care tasks in real life, you’re also taking care of Amaru, the adorable avatar. These tasks include completing any of the Guided Mindfulness or Breathing activities. To keep users engaged, Amaru’s story is also gradually unlocked as you work your way through the mini-games.
Available on both the AppStore and PlayStore.
How We Feel
Emotional regulation can sometimes be difficult to manage. How We Feel operates in such a way that it’s both a personal journal and a mental-health-centred social platform. You get to stay up-to-date with the mental health of your loved ones who are fellow users of the app. How We Feel users praise the app for helping them identify feelings better and overcome inner turmoil through the exercises provided.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Habitica
Whether you’re brushing your teeth or folding your clothes, this app gamifies your daily life so that navigating tasks becomes much more entertaining. Don’t we all feel like the main characters in a movie sometimes? Well, be the main character in your game of life with Habitica! Simply create your own avatar in the game, then play away as you knock down your daily tasks.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Lifestyle
ZRX: Zombies Run + Marvel Move
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Love running? What if I told you that you could assume the role of a mission-fuelled superhero or a zombie apocalypse survivor while you’re at it? That’s what the ZRX app is all about. Add a touch of thrill to your weekly laps by incorporating a storyline into your exercise. It will sure keep you going like your life depends on it!
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Tasty
Feeling lonely in the kitchen? Get a cooking companion like Tasty! Featuring over 10,000 delicious recipes, there’s always something new to discover. You don’t even have to necessarily be a prodigy in the kitchen to use this app. Do you have ingredients so limited you don’t know what to cook? Tasty is here to save the day with its ‘ingredient search’ feature so you can retrieve recipes based on the ingredients you already have.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Alarmy
If you have a chronic habit of snoozing your alarm like me, this is the app for you! Never be late again to work or an outing with your friends. With Alarmy, you can only dismiss your alarms upon completion of missions that vary from math-solving to memory games. This app also ensures better care for your sleeping habits through its snore and sleep tracker as well as bedtime alarms.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Hobbies
Letterboxd
Brainrot internet can be entertaining, but what if you wanted to have insightful discussions on a viral, amazing indie movie you just watched? Letterboxd has an amazing community for that purpose and so much more! You might even find its name familiar, especially if you’ve come across videos of your favourite celebrities naming their top four favourite films. Keep track of the movies you’ve watched and build interesting lists all while mingling with fellow cinephiles on Letterboxd.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
StoryGraph
If Letterboxd is for cinephiles, then StoryGraph is for all of you bibliophiles out there! Goodreads may be a classic, but this app really takes the cake feature-wise. You won’t be using this book app to only track your reading anymore. StoryGraph shows you insights into your reading habits and patterns over certain periods. Not to mention, you could also partake in reading challenges on the app.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Travel
Spotted by Locals
In true Zafigo spirit, here are recommendations for travel-based apps! While we know how skilled our readers likely already are in travelling; it won’t hurt to learn about a new resource. Spotted by Locals allows you to find local-approved spots, so you’re less susceptible to tourist traps that could potentially be disappointing.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
Worldpackers
Worldpackers provide solutions to different travelling dilemmas all at once; pricey accommodation expenses and lack of cultural immersion for instance. What’s the catch? Well, what it offers is accommodation with your chosen host in exchange for volunteer work.
While not all opportunities are entirely free of charge, they certainly give more than they take. Charges mainly apply in volunteer work with host organizations as a form of donation, among other reasons. If you’re looking for hosts that don’t charge, there are always housework-based volunteer jobs.
Available on both AppStore and PlayStore.
