To become happier, better-looking and healthier, and get rid of fungal infections, all you need is... No, there will be no clickbait headlines or wild advice here. But you really can become healthier — with a little effort.
We have selected useful apps to help you break bad habits and change your life starting on Monday. Or today.
You're making it up! I've started on Monday plenty of times and nothing happened!
It really is difficult. There is a reason every healthy-living project insists on building a habit. After a couple of tough weeks, making a healthy breakfast or going for a morning run starts to feel easier.
Breaking a bad habit and replacing it with a good one is even harder — like going to work in a field after a night of clubbing and chasing serotonin. Two simple strategies can help with this difficult task.
Make the activity enjoyable. Suppose you have decided to eat more healthily. Buy attractive plates, search for delicious recipes or order poached chicken at a good restaurant. Suddenly, it may not seem so bad.
Choose a reward. Find your dream dress or suit and plan to buy it when you lose weight. Take a day off with your favourite films. Motivation matters, and if you are working to improve your life, you deserve it.
These approaches can make replacing unhealthy habits with healthy ones a little easier. Now for some apps to help you look after your health, appearance, mood and even your wallet. Let's go!
Apps to help you manage your habits
Discover the wisdom of the classics with LitRes
And not just the classics: the digital library contains more than 752,000 books. Fantasy, crime, mystery, adventure, psychology and even graphic novels. If you find reading boring, try choosing a book that matches your interests. Who knows? A month later, you might look up from your tenth novel without having smoked a single cigarette.
Drink more water with Waterbalance
“I drink when I feel like it, and that is enough,” you may think. But you are overestimating the body: it is not that clever and can confuse thirst with hunger, as doctors have shown. It is worth giving it some help. Waterbalance helps prevent dehydration and overeating by suggesting how much water to drink based on your personal details.
Become more mindful with Headspace meditation
The app offers plenty of practices for beginners and experienced meditators, calming sleep music, breathing exercises and activities for focus and mindfulness. Even if you do not get into meditation, Headspace can distract you from problems and help you fall asleep more easily.
Get into a plank with Seven
Do you know why the app has that name? Every workout lasts just seven minutes. Here is how it works: regularly spend a little time exercising before breakfast or after work, then let the magic happen — your abs start to show and the extra weight begins to go. That simple.
Give up cigarettes with the Smoke Free app
If you have thought about quitting, you have probably searched for ways to stop smoking. How many did you find? Four or five? The Smoke Free app brings together around 20 proven methods that have helped people quit. A smoking diary, progress charts, rewards and a supportive community of fellow quitters increase the chances of success.
Stop swearing with the Swear Jar app
The Swear Jar app can help you become more polite, clean up your language and fit into high society. Every swear word means putting 25 cents into the jar. You do not actually have to pay — the currency is virtual. But controlling your language really does become easier, especially once your imaginary debt reaches six figures. No more #$@*%!
Start saving with CoinKeeper
If you want money left in your account at least the day after payday, try CoinKeeper. It lets you budget, manage income and expenses, and set spending limits. CoinKeeper can help with almost any bad habit. Spend more than planned on cigarettes or fast food and the app will send a notification and give you a firm telling-off.
Start eating healthily with MyFitnessPal
We are constantly told that healthy food can taste good. But can meals based on broccoli, rice, chicken or fish really offer much variety? It seems unlikely.
MyFitnessPal proves otherwise, with more than 14 million daily food options in the app. It also includes a calorie tracker and food diary. Choose a diet that suits your tastes and try a few recipes. Starting to eat well is easier than it seems.
Download any of these apps and get started. Soon you may barely recognise yourself — and others may hold you up as an example.
