As 2020 comes to an end, here at Mizh we’re breathing a huge sigh of relief. We’re also planning what we want to accomplish in 2021, and we wanted to share some tips and apps to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions.
How to stick to your New Year’s resolutions
Most of us start out each year with ambitious resolutions, only to find that by summer (or let’s be real, by February), we’ve made little progress. To stick to your New Year goals, be realistic, be intentional, and be proactive.
Be realistic
It’s tempting to make many resolutions for the year, but it’s best to pick the most important ones to focus on. Brainstorm everything you want to accomplish, then select your top 1-3 goals to focus on. Also be specific and realistic about the outcome. If you’ve been at a certain weight for years and had trouble losing pounds, set a healthy target for yourself that you’ll be able to maintain over time.
Be intentional
Why are your resolutions important to you? Write down exactly why you want to accomplish each one, and focus on that for motivation. For example, if your resolution is to exercise more, why? When it’s raining and you’d rather go back to sleep than go for a run, thinking “I want to exercise so that I have more energy to spend time with my kids” will be a much better motivation than “I made a New Year’s resolution.”
Also be intentional about the progress you make. Celebrate wins, however small. Use a wall calendar to put a star on every day you accomplish a task or find another way to celebrate.
Be proactive
Once you’ve decided on specific, realistic resolutions and articulated why they’re important to you, it’s time to make a plan. The more proactive you can be about planning how to succeed at your resolution, the better. Plan to build a long-term habit. If your resolution is to spend more time with family and friends, plan how to do that. Who are the specific people you want to spend more time with? What days of the week or times do you and they have time to spend together? Will you use FaceTime, Zoom, or a phone call? The more detailed your plan is, the easier it will be to follow through.
Especially for long-term goals, it’s helpful to ramp up gradually. If your goal is to spend less time on social media, try to gradually reduce your app time over a few months rather than all at once. Extreme changes can leave you feeling deprived and frustrated, and you’re more likely to backslide.
Apps to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions
These are a few of our favorite apps to help achieve some of the most common New Year’s resolutions.
If your resolution is to… Exercise more, try… Nike Training Club
This free app offers hundreds of workouts ranging from HIIT to relaxing yoga, so you can pick and choose the workouts that are best for you each day. We especially like their Breakthrough Challenge, a series of 20 workouts to do in 4 weeks that gives you a sample of all different types of exercise they offer. During Covid-19, the variety of exercise options is a great way to keep your interest level high as you begin a new exercise resolution for 2021.
Devices: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch) and Android
Price: Free
If your resolution is to… Lose weight, try… MyFitnessPal
Keeping track of calories couldn’t be easier! MyFitnessPal has the biggest range of foods we’ve come across, including options to snap a photo of food, scan a barcode, or select an item from a restaurant menu. Use this app to set specific goals, then track them day by day. Whether your resolution is to lose weight or eat healthier, this app is a great choice.
Devices: iOS (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch) and Android
Price: Free, with premium subscription versions
If your resolution is to… Spend more time with loved ones, try… Houseparty
Possibly the unofficial app of 2020 (along with Zoom), Houseparty is the perfect solution for connecting to your friends and family remotely. This app makes connecting more casual, because you can see when people are available on the app and jump on a one-to-one chat or start a group call right away. Options to play Uno, sing karaoke, and more add variety beyond the usual remote hangouts.
Devices: iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android
Price: Free, with options to buy Heads Up and other games
If your resolution is to… Save more money or spend less, try… Mint
Mint is the most comprehensive option for setting and achieving financial goals, so it’s a great choice whether you want to focus on reducing your spending or allocating savings more effectively - or both. Set your goals in the app and connect your bank account. Mint makes it easy to track your budget, including one-off and recurring expenses, and it gives you tips for how to save more.
Devices: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch) and Android
Price: Free
If your resolution is to… Learn a new language, try… Duolingo
We can’t wait to be able to travel again, and learning a new language is a fun way to look forward to new adventures. For learning a language, Duolingo is our favorite app by far. With a cute, simple design, it guides you through progressive lessons to learn a language in a fun and engaging way. It reminds you to practice each day for the duration you select. Even when you’re a beginner, lessons range from vocabulary to putting together full sentences, so learning doesn’t get boring.
Devices: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and Android
Price: Free, with a paid ad-free version
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2021!