31 December,2016 08:30 AM IST | | Krutika Beharawala
Finding it tough to stick to your New Year resolutions? Latch on to these seven smartphone applications to help you sail through the year
Resolution 1: Get fitter
Download: HealthifyMe Weight Loss Coach
This Indian app comes to the rescue of those who are unable to stick to a workout routine
beyond a month. It offers a tailored diet-and-exercise programme depending on your body type and health goals. You can also keep track of your calories using its calorie counter, which features a large number of Indian food items (did you know a plate of pav bhaji is 376 calories while a bowl of dal is 137 calories?). These features are available free of cost. You can also avail of virtual counselling from a team of nutritionists, fitness trainers and yoga instructors, using in-app purchases. It also syncs activity and sleep data by integrating with wearable devices like Fitbit. This makes fitness fun, right?
AVAILABLE ON Android and iOS
Resolution 2: Quit smoking
Download: Smoke Free
If you've been planning to stub that butt, take help from Smoke Free, an app developed by UK-based David Craine, which has over five lakh downloads. Based on the information you feed in (how many cigarettes you smoke, the cost and the deadline for quitting), the app tracks your smoking activity and also throws up the amount of money you've saved (it has an INR option too) and the numbers of hours you've regained in life. You can also check your health status via bars that figure out your pulse rate and oxygen levels depending on the data fed in. And there's a diary to record your cravings.
Available on Android and iOS
Resolution 3: Travel more
Download: Trip Planner by Tripigator
From hotel booking apps to discovering hotels and toilets along India's highways, there are many apps that are sure to help you go road-tripping to Ladakh or enjoy a wildlife safari in Kanha. If you're too laidback to plan your itinerary, download Tripigator's Trip Planner app, launched by the Indian Ministry Of Tourism. Based on your budget, interests (culture, romance, hideaways, etc) and energy levels (relaxed or active), the app throws up cost-calculated itineraries featuring multiple modes of transport, places to stay at and activities that you can participate in. It also customises the plans based on your stopovers. If you're looking for travel inspirations, check out the discovery feature that provides information (with best time to visit, activities, eateries, etc) for most destinations in India.
Available on Android
Resolution 4: Get organised
Download: Quip
If you're juggling multiple deadlines at work, have to figure out evening dinners at home and always feel the need for a personal assistant, we suggest you get Quip on your smartphone instead. Like a virtual office, it combines chat, documents, task lists and spreadsheets in one app. It also offers real-time chat and integrated messaging that allows you to edit documents with your co-workers, take notes or even share grocery lists and collaborate with your family members to figure out what to make for dinner. The app allows you to import and export the docs to other apps like Evernote, Google Drive and Microsoft Word, and it can also be used on desktop via quip.com.
Available on Android and iOS
Resolution 5: Learn a new language
Download: Duolingo
It's one of the most trusted apps to learn a new language fast and in a fun manner. Based on your knowledge level, it displays a game where you are supposed to figure out the words depending on the pictures. You can learn Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and Polish too. Apparently, 34 hours of Duolingo are equivalent to a semester of university-level education.
Available on Android and iOS
Resolution 6: Manage your money
Download: MoneyView
If you're struggling to keep a track of your expenses, especially in times of demonetisation, seek aid from the
virtual finance manager.
It allows you to keep a check on your account balance (using bank grade security and encryption), offers
reminders to pay your bills on time and now, also helps you find an ATM with cash in your neighbourhood.
Available on Android
Resolution 7: De-stress
Download: Adult Colouring Book Premium
While adult colouring books were all the rage this year, here's an app version to help you relieve anxiety and de-stress through the year. It offers a variety of images in different categories - animals, mandalas (pic on right), masterpieces, etc. You can fill in colours from a wide palette that lets you pick linear as well as gradient hues. You can also flaunt your skills on social media by sharing these images. While many of the images are available only via in-app purchases, the app gets updated twice a week. That should sort you out for the year.
Available on Android and iOS
