Admittedly, I have more apps on my phone than I need. And honestly, there are probably apps on there that I have never opened or set-up. But, there are also apps that have been life changers for me! These apps have changed the way I use my iPhone and helped me start new habits. They have given me the boost I need to better manage my finances and to get better hours of sleep.
8 Apps to Improve Your Life:
ONE:: Truebill.
This one is a finance game changer! I first downloaded the app when I noticed, belatedly, that I was paying for two magazine subscriptions that I hadn’t been receiving. Since I have none of the account information I googled how to cancel the subscriptions and came across TrueBill.
The app basically helps you manage your finances. It reminds you of recurring payments. It will work with companies to lower bills on your behalf. Truebill will even cancel subscriptions for you. And all of that is done for the cost you are willing to pay monthly for the service, as well as a small cut of the first year’s worth of lower payments. Not bad when you don’t have to go through the hassle.
TWO:: AutoSleep
This app syncs with my apple watch and measures my sleep patterns. To be honest, I found it particularly helpful the first month I used it because it helped me realize I wasn’t getting as much sleep as I thought I was, and certainly not enough to be a sane functioning adult. It is also helpful if I’ve had several days of sluggishness, giving me a chance to look at my sleep patterns and see if anything is amiss.
THREE:: Moment
This app is scary, but so useful. It tracks how you use your phone - everything from the number of times you pick it up, even if it is just to check the time, to the number of minutes you spend on each app. Even if you occasionally check your phones usage information, this app is worth downloading to get the full picture! And it’s scary!
When setting up the app you can check off boxes you want help working on - things like ‘have more family time’ to ‘reduce anxiety’. Even if you are just using it to get a feel for how you utilize your phone, it is an eye-opening experience. For instance, I know I use my phone a lot since my job depends on it. But the numbers were staggering. A week or two of using the app and looking at the data will have you thinking twice about picking up your phone to just check that one thing.
FOUR:: HabitMinder
If you are trying to start a new habit and are having a hard time remembering it throughout the day, this app is for you. It works in two ways that are helpful in forming habits. One: it will send you push notifications throughout the day if it seems as though you aren’t getting to the task. Two: it gives you a place to track your habit by marking it completed - acting as a mini reward for completing the task. Plus, it tracks your habit streaks making you feel super accomplished when you’ve got a multi-week streak going of that new habit you are trying to keep.
Honestly, I use it for the first month or two of keeping a habit and then skip it once the habit is established because I no longer need the reminders and the little victory of checking things off. But it is really helpful in those first weeks in which remembering is tricky.
FIVE:: SignNow
Maybe this is jut a blogger hack, but if you even have to continuously sign documents for work, this app is a lifesaver. Now, rather than printing the documents, signing them and then scanning them in order to email them back, I can just open the document in this app, attach my signature and email it back. It saves SO much time and can be done from anywhere, no paper or printer needed.
SIX:: SpotHero
This one might not be new to you, but if you haven’t used SpotHero yet - do it! I can’t tell you the number of times this has saved me tons of money. For instance, parking in the Millennium Park parking garage costs an arm and a leg if you just roll in. But if you use the app, you can often park there all day for $16! Plus, the app sends discount codes with some frequency, so chances are you can even get a couple dollars off most of your spots.
SEVEN:: GasBuddy
Admittedly, I am not the type of person to drive very far out of my way to get gas. I’m also the person who only gets gas after the light goes off reminding me I need to fill up soon. (And no, I have never run out of gas.) But this handy little app will tell you the average price of gas in your neck of the woods and will also show you the price of gas stations around you. I mostly use it to make sure I am purchasing gas that is at least the average price, or lower.
EIGHT:: Libby
Connect your library card to this app and you can see what your library has available and you can even borrow audiobooks right from the app. Since I pretty much exclusively ‘read’ audiobooks these days, this is my go-to for finding my next read. You can even put books on hold, which will be automatically rented when they become available. Fair warning: really popular books have pretty long waitlists so it might take awhile to get that book.
