Roughly 40% of us will look at January 1 as a start date for new habits to achieve a goal. Only 8% of those people will actually stick to those habits. It is a pretty sad statistic. There are a couple of ways that you can get yourself into that small percentage: set SMART goals, have a support system, and measure what you are doing so you can track where you are. Luckily, we live in an age where if you can’t get your friends and family on board, you can find a digital source of support and accountability (just ask anyone who has a watch that tells them to stand up and walk). And, finding and tracking health-related information has never been easier. No matter what your goal: more mindfulness, increased hydration, or weight loss, there is sure to be an app for you to help you along.
- Insight Timer: This is a free app for IOS and android. I like it because you can choose from a huge variety of meditations or just simple breath awareness exercises. You can also choose the time you have to give it, anywhere from a few minutes onward. Many of us could benefit from slowing our mind and body down daily, but it can be very challenging. Let an expert coach you through!
- Myfitnesspal: This app remains my favorite for tracking food and exercise, because it is so simple to use. It has a database of over 5 million foods that you can choose from. You can enter your goals and customize it to your activity level, age, and current weight. You can add friends to your feed to help keep eachother going, or reach out to the huge community of people that use the app. The only downside is that, because the data is user generated, there can be errors in the data on a lot of the foods.
- HealthyOut: A lot of clients confide to me that they have trouble sticking to their healthy eating plans when they eat out, which is pretty often. This app, available for free, can help you look at menus and pick choices aligned with your dietary choices.
- Waterlogged: This app is for those trying to up their water. There are quite a few hydration apps, but this one lets you track beverages other than water and see how they count towards your daily ounce goal. You can also save said favorite drinks in the app for quick logging. This app is free but has some premium features that are optional and for a cost.
Remember, set small, achievable goals over time and have the tools you need so you are better positioned for success. Have a happy and healthy new year!