10 Apps to Help You Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions. (Really.)

January 2, 2015

Another year, another chance to craft a fruitless list of resolutions that’ll barely last through January. Or is it? Whether you’re looking to transform yourself, pick up new skills, or help out your community, whip out that smartphone — these 10 New Year’s resolution apps won’t just inspire you to start fresh, they’ll keep you motivated, too. You’re pretty much guaranteed success…unless your resolution for 2016 is “get off your phone.” Can’t help much with that one.

1. VOLUNTEERMATCH: If you haven’t gotten further with your resolutions than the ambiguous “give back,” here’s a concrete way to plan your next move. VolunteerMatch lets you browse volunteering listings in your vicinity and sign up with a simple tap, as well as gently prod friends and family to join in by sharing your sessions.

Photo courtesy of Melpomenem/iStock/Thinkstock.
2. GIVEGAB: Speaking of rounding up your nearest and dearest: Amplify your efforts by downloading GiveGab, which is designed especially to orchestrate volunteering en masse. The app also handily lets you craft a volunteer résumé and find out how your efforts translate into funds for the organizations at hand.

Photo courtesy of Catherine Yeulet/iStock/Thinkstock.
3. FARMSTAND: There are few things we love more than urban farmers markets and New Year’s resolution apps, so you can only imagine how we feel about Farmstand. An app that pinpoints local markets and provides their contact deets, Farmstand even lets you peep the sweet veggies your friends are scooping up near you. This is one for those looking to add “eat locally” to their list of 2015 change-ups.

Photo courtesy of SHSPhotography/iStock/Thinkstock.
4. WUNDERLIST: If your friends call you “Hurricane Steve” because of your life’s perpetual chaos, resolve to get your stuff together in 2015. You don’t have to do it all by yourself, though: The stellar Wunderlist syncs your life by creating collaborative to-do lists, planning your next grocery shop — even politely reminding you about upcoming deadlines.

Photo courtesy of ponsulak/Thinkstock/iStock.
5. COUCH TO 5K: The couch is so nice, so cozy…so perfect a venue for that next House of Cards binge. And yet, getting fit, hitting the pavement, and building up your confidence can feel pretty good, too. Couch to 5K will help you bridge the gap. And don’t worry: You’re still allowed to indulge in some Netflix on the side.

Photo courtesy of m-gucci/iStock/Thinkstock.
6. HEADSPACE: “Learn to meditate” is an oft-included entry on resolution lists, but sitting quietly for 10 minutes isn’t nearly as simple as it sounds. Luckily, ahem, there’s an app for that. Headspace simplifies the meditation process and helps train users to strive for mindfulness. Use it and find inner peace — or at least cut down on stress levels.

Photo courtesy of deeepblue/iStock/Thinkstock.
7. DUOLINGO: Have a yen to do some traveling in 2015? Start prepping now with Duolingo, a free app that schools users in nine different languages. Speak, read, and spell, all while being rewarded with points and an ever-climbing daily streak. You can also follow friends and track their progress — and rub in just how well those Danish lessons are working out for you.

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Fochesato/Thinkstock/iStock.
8. PACT: Sometimes — especially in the bleak winter months — you need extra motivation to hit the gym. Like cold, hard cash. Enter Pact, which quite literally rewards your efforts every time you log in workout hours. On the flipside, you’ll get penalized if you opt to stay in, which is only extra incentive to hit the treadmill. You can also earn rewards for logging meals and eating veggies. Broccoli’s never tasted quite so lucrative.

Photo courtesy of yingyo/iStock/Thinkstock.
9. MINT: “Where does all the money go?” you might wonder, peering into your barren wallet after the latest big night out. Banish the mystery with Mint, a comprehensive personal finance resource, which tracks spending by category, creates budgets, displays your credit score, and even nudges you when you’re doing your high-roller act.

Photo courtesy of sUs_angel/iStock/Thinkstock.
10. BOOMERANG: No, Boomerang doesn’t turn your phone into an airborne toy. Instead, the app lets you finally conquer your inbox by scheduling emails, reminding you to follow up on unanswered missives, and hiding messages from your inbox until they’re ready to address. Sweet, sweet inbox zen.

Photo courtesy of DragonImages/iStock/Thinkstock.
1. VOLUNTEERMATCH: If you haven’t gotten further with your resolutions than the ambiguous “give back,” here’s a concrete way to plan your next move. VolunteerMatch lets you browse volunteering listings in your vicinity and sign up with a simple tap, as well as gently prod friends and family to join in by sharing your sessions.

Photo courtesy of Melpomenem/iStock/Thinkstock.
2. GIVEGAB: Speaking of rounding up your nearest and dearest: Amplify your efforts by downloading GiveGab, which is designed especially to orchestrate volunteering en masse. The app also handily lets you craft a volunteer résumé and find out how your efforts translate into funds for the organizations at hand.

Photo courtesy of Catherine Yeulet/iStock/Thinkstock.
3. FARMSTAND: There are few things we love more than urban farmers markets and New Year’s resolution apps, so you can only imagine how we feel about Farmstand. An app that pinpoints local markets and provides their contact deets, Farmstand even lets you peep the sweet veggies your friends are scooping up near you. This is one for those looking to add “eat locally” to their list of 2015 change-ups.

Photo courtesy of SHSPhotography/iStock/Thinkstock.
4. WUNDERLIST: If your friends call you “Hurricane Steve” because of your life’s perpetual chaos, resolve to get your stuff together in 2015. You don’t have to do it all by yourself, though: The stellar Wunderlist syncs your life by creating collaborative to-do lists, planning your next grocery shop — even politely reminding you about upcoming deadlines.

Photo courtesy of ponsulak/Thinkstock/iStock.
5. COUCH TO 5K: The couch is so nice, so cozy…so perfect a venue for that next House of Cards binge. And yet, getting fit, hitting the pavement, and building up your confidence can feel pretty good, too. Couch to 5K will help you bridge the gap. And don’t worry: You’re still allowed to indulge in some Netflix on the side.

Photo courtesy of m-gucci/iStock/Thinkstock.
6. HEADSPACE: “Learn to meditate” is an oft-included entry on resolution lists, but sitting quietly for 10 minutes isn’t nearly as simple as it sounds. Luckily, ahem, there’s an app for that. Headspace simplifies the meditation process and helps train users to strive for mindfulness. Use it and find inner peace — or at least cut down on stress levels.

Photo courtesy of deeepblue/iStock/Thinkstock.
7. DUOLINGO: Have a yen to do some traveling in 2015? Start prepping now with Duolingo, a free app that schools users in nine different languages. Speak, read, and spell, all while being rewarded with points and an ever-climbing daily streak. You can also follow friends and track their progress — and rub in just how well those Danish lessons are working out for you.

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Fochesato/Thinkstock/iStock.
8. PACT: Sometimes — especially in the bleak winter months — you need extra motivation to hit the gym. Like cold, hard cash. Enter Pact, which quite literally rewards your efforts every time you log in workout hours. On the flipside, you’ll get penalized if you opt to stay in, which is only extra incentive to hit the treadmill. You can also earn rewards for logging meals and eating veggies. Broccoli’s never tasted quite so lucrative.

Photo courtesy of yingyo/iStock/Thinkstock.
9. MINT: “Where does all the money go?” you might wonder, peering into your barren wallet after the latest big night out. Banish the mystery with Mint, a comprehensive personal finance resource, which tracks spending by category, creates budgets, displays your credit score, and even nudges you when you’re doing your high-roller act.

Photo courtesy of sUs_angel/iStock/Thinkstock.
10. BOOMERANG: No, Boomerang doesn’t turn your phone into an airborne toy. Instead, the app lets you finally conquer your inbox by scheduling emails, reminding you to follow up on unanswered missives, and hiding messages from your inbox until they’re ready to address. Sweet, sweet inbox zen.

Photo courtesy of DragonImages/iStock/Thinkstock.