I often write about my love for analog tools (notebooks, pens, notepads….) and the mindfulness approach it forces me to take as I use them. However, I would be remised not to mention all the ways in which digital Apps have brought additional success to my journey.
Below are 5 digital Apps rated by ease of use, frequency, cost, any related successful habits the App spurred. I also add my personal wishes or feedback for the App developers to further elevate my experience. By no means is this comprehensive, but hopefully directional and helpful to Readers :).
Vitality
- Wellness use:
- Obtain employee-sponsored health benefit perks
- Track/follow routine screening and care recommendations
- Set/track micro health goals
- Order rewards
- Read health articles (love the nurtition ones!)
- Comments:
- This was my first year using the Vitality App although the benefit has been available to me for many years. It’s been eye opening, gratifying, and motivating to earn points as I close health gaps.
- Frequency: daily
- Cost: $0 (employer sponsored)
- Related Outcomes:
- I completed applicable health screenings and vaccines for my age group!
- I worked out more this year than I have any other year.
- I love the sync function with my Apple Watch.
- When I record a workout it automatically records in Vitality. Best feature!
- Wishes:
- I wish the App would have more functions within the App than routing to browser.
- Sometimes if I’m reading a quick blog post (during a kiddos activity)routing to the browser requires more bandwidth than may be available in that moment.
- I also wish I could create more lifestyle stress management goals like attend a play, or eco therapy.
- I personally found eco therapy wildly successful for stress management in my life this year. I wrote a blog post about it here.
- I wish the App would have more functions within the App than routing to browser.
- Keep in 2024?: YES!!!
Apple Notes
- Wellness use:
- Meal planning
- This is probably the most useful contribution my wellness.
- The search function allows me to quickly scan old meal plans for reference.
- I’ve kept every meal plan used for the last 11 months, which will help me see seasonal options next year.
- Travel planning
- Note taking for Nutrition Certification
- Family time planning (social wellness 🙂
- Reading Tracking (intellectual wellness 🙂
- Work out ideas
- Meal ideas
- Blog ideas and tracking!
- ect….
- Meal planning
- Frequency: daily
- Outcomes:
- Overhauled the way my family eats
- I would direct tie this outcome
- Using Notes allowed me to develop more mindful eating and shopping habits.
- For example, I use Notes to gather meal ideas, pluck them into a template, and take the grocery list handily on my phone straight to the store.
- Helped me track and exceed weight lifting goals
- Very easy to reference when traveling and ordering groceries
- When I meal plan with my husband, we use the “share” feature so we can add and make changes jointly.
- My digital clutter is far less since I’ve started using Notes more frequently. The folders feature allows me to bucket notes so I may find things more quickly.
- I also really like the “pin” feature. I can quickly spot the most important tasks that are pinned, but still archive those not important right now.
- Overhauled the way my family eats
- Cost: $0
- Wishes:
- More interface with the Apple Reminders App.
- Sometimes it’s easier to quickly jot an idea in Reminders that I wish could simply tranfer over rather than retype.
- Aesthetics? Would love additional color choices, background… but that’s just a preference!
- More interface with the Apple Reminders App.
- Keep in 2024?: YES!
Pick Up Limes
- Wellness use
- Color my plate! I love the diversity of legumes, plants, and oats utilized in recipes offered.
- Ideas for quick clean eating.
- The creator is a Registered Dietician with a wildly popular YouTube channel.
- I followed the channel for a while and have really enjoyed the App’s interface with video recipes.
- Grocery list- it’s very easy to choose a recipe and migrate it over to the grocery list. I flip between the App and Notes when I shop in store, or more easily grocery delivery!
- Outcomes:
- PUL videos are very engaging and practical.
- Videos with research-backed information on food and energy, and eating for specific health benefits have increased my knowledge in these areas.
- I enjoy finding recipes with specific foods mentioned in research.
- For example, I began adding radishes to my noodle soup after watching one of their many informative videos.
- PUL videos are very engaging and practical.
- Frequency: weekly
- Cost: $3.99 per month
- Wishes:
- Filters that do not include cook time with prep time.
- For example, I LOVE overnight oats. 10-15 min prep but ++hrs to cook.
- I wish I could find quick prep items easily which is what I love as a busy Mom.
- Filters that do not include cook time with prep time.
- Keep in 2024?: YES for now. Will continue to evaluate use each month
Apple Health and Fitness
- Wellness use:
- Track workouts, steps, areas related to weight management, monitor trends, awards and reminder prompts
- Outcomes:
- Direct tie to increased movement this year. The single most important tracking measure for me is steps.
- I have observed correlation between the number of steps I take a week and health success overall for myself.
- Frequency: Daily sometimes 2x
- Cost: $0
- Wishes: None
- Keep in 2024?: YES!
Withings Blood Pressure Cuff and App
- Wellness use: Tracking blood pressure
- Outcomes: Increased awareness of blood pressure and stored readings I can share with my doctor at our next visit
- Frequency: …… this lies the problem I’m a bit inconsistent 🙁
- Cost: The BP Cuff was $99.00 and the App was free
- Wishes:
- Portability, the cuff is still a bit bulky for traveling
- App version just for BP monitoring.
- Current version includes + areas and can be a bit distracting.
- Keep in 2024?: Maybe….
These apps worked so well for me this year. Maintaining some of my new habits and diversifying past ones,
2024 Adds?
Streaks
Streaks is essentially a to do list tool that helps you create and track good habits. Crossing off a to do list is incredibly satisfying for me. My hope is that tracking micro habits (eating a veg at lunch, walk the dog, one minute mindful moment) keeps me motivated and focused on my goals. This is one item I will be moving from analog to digital.
Apple Journal?
Apple describes the App has having the ability to capture and write about the details of everyday moments and special events using photos, videos, audio recordings, places, and more. I would love to have an App that can help me capture microjoys in every day life. However, the App won’t be available until their newest release. Until then…..
I hope this post was helpful to you.
In peace,
J