You entered 2019 with gusto, with a bullet point list that probably has ‘hit the gym’, ‘learn to knit’ or ‘travel more’ right on top. You’ve taken that gym membership, that yoga class, and it’s only been the second week and the same gusto is down to a muffled grunt, as you turn off the alarm and go back to bed. If you feel that zest waning, that resolve slipping, we hear you and we got you. Here’s a handy guide to enlist the help of tech to get you to keep those New Year resolutions!
Go out more
Let’s start small and simple. Put down that Netflix remote, open that door and take a walk. Fill your lungs with fresh air. Unless you live in Delhi, a walk is the easiest way to get in shape. All you need to motivate you is your smartphone and Pokemon Go. A game that lets you capture the cute creatures and evolve them to fight at Pokemon gyms, which are peppered at several landmarks in the city. Pokemon Go is designed to make you get out and discover your city. Who knows, in your quest to be the best Pokemon trainer, you actually can get fit.
Get healthy
Hitting the gym is just one small step in a long hike up a steep mountain. It’s the hardest to commit to; however, before you hit the gym, you could try a volley of fitness apps like Nike+ Training Club, Fitbit Coach, Asana Rebel for high-intensity yoga, Freeletics Bodyweight, Yoga Studio and more. Most of these are better with Fitbits and other wearables. Most of them have a free trial, with subscription fees if you like them. Most of these apps help you stay motivated. Many of these apps also remind you to hydrate or walk around, guaranteeing your well-being through the day. If you’re into sports like swimming or playing football, you should invest in a smartwatch and let it track your stats.
Keep a healthy mind
Rest, relaxation and reflection are only just a small part of it. In the context of this ever-increasing phenomenon of social media-related depression and overwork, keeping a healthy mind is important. Again, all you need is your smartphone, where the simplest thing you could do is limit your social media usage. Apps like Elevate, Mensa, Peak and CogniFit help you train your brain to focus, improve your memory as well as keep your brain fit. For mindfulness and calm, you can use Headspace, Calm, Mindbody, Buddhify and many more, which help you relax, and some of them even gamify the experience. If you do happen to have wearables like the Apple Watch 4, there’s a beautiful and simple breathe watch face that helps you focus.
Learn a skill
If you want to write a novel, learn to code your very own video game, learn to draw or even learn to be a comedian, this is the best time to start, but not many of us have time. Udemy has a staggering list of courses on sale now for as low as ₹650. Each course has over 100 lectures and covers a wide variety of topics. There’s also MasterClass which is pricier, but has classes from greats like Hans Zimmer, Steve Martin, Margaret Atwood, Deadmau5 and more. Now, if you want to get certified proper, you can opt-in for Nanodegrees from Google and other companies through Udacity. Either way, you are on a path to learning something new, and who knows, maybe you could become a full-fledged comedian or get an alternate profession, or even make your very first video game or app.
Learn a new language
While it is the same as above, in theory, learning a language is intense, with the aspects of reading, writing and the nuances of speaking both colloquially and formally. Yet, it’s one of the most wholesome experiences, especially if you have a place in mind. For example, if you want to go to Japan, you can boot up Duolingo, which uses an incredible science behind its simple lectures and exercises, to help you speak and read Japanese at the same time. You could look at the languages offered by Duolingo and plan your next holiday and let the app motivate and remind you every day.
Get motivated
Your smartphone and smartwatch are your teachers, coaches and friends; now let them be your motivational coach — with apps like Productive and Coach.me that help you track your habits to boost productivity. While apps like Positive serve to motivate and inspire you, Forest helps you stay focused by curtailing your phone usage. There are several motivation apps out there for fitness and most of the best ones are already baked into your wearable trackers.
