Accountability Apps For The New Year

Metro-010116-SuperTechIt always struck me as strange how celebrated I was throughout my Navy career. To me, it felt like I was just showing up on time and doing what I was supposed to be doing.

But some people find it difficult to do what they are supposed to be doing. Or rather, do what they intended or said they would do. What’s the point of saying you’re going to do something if you don’t do it? Something as simple as that can get so complicated.

The noise and distractions of everyday life can get in the way, and before you know it, you are lessening the importance of your own resolve.

Now, of course, is the time of year to reflect on all that.

I recently returned from a round of cancer treatment at Angel Farms on Hawaii island, where I learned so many important life lessons and tricks. My favorite one was to write down as many things as I could think of that I was grateful for that day at the end of each day. Doing this helps resolve any action items your brain wants to process – work issues, personal conflicts, internal disturbances, etc. – and it helps you have just simply the greatest dreams. I noticed my dreams were fantastic after doing this for only a couple of days. Nothing lucid just yet, but very nice, vivid and enjoyable things are happening now that I free my mind before going to bed.

Another more widely known tradition of writing down your resolutions for the coming year has taken the lead the last couple of weeks. Writing down your goals for the coming year is very effective, because you are setting that intention. What you think can so easily become what is – but it’s something that needs attention and focus.

It’s so easy to get distracted and look at your list toward the end of the year and realize that you dropped the ball a few months in or haven’t even made much progress on any of it. But with the help of a couple apps, this could get easier.

Quitting smoking frequently is listed as one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, and no doubt sites selling quitting aids, like Nicotine-Pouches.com, see a lot of business towards the end of the year as people prepare to quit come January 1st. Not just the nicotine pouches, but cannabis products are also used as an alternative by those trying to quit the habit. Yes, you can try to quit smoking using this! Besides these products, there is a great free app called “Quitter” that also can be adjusted for anything else you want to stop doing. Perhaps you want to stop being negative or eating fast food. It will regularly tell you the amount of money you would save on that pack of cigarettes or cheeseburger happy meal with extra pickles and milk (a regular thing that I thought was a healthy option in my past, pre-cancer life). There is a section where you can upload photos of your family, or get graphic with what lung disease looks like for added inspiration.

Another one is Coach.me, which is exactly what it sounds like: a little life coach in your smartphone. Set your goals and stay on track with notifications and a community that helps cultivate a little bit of competitiveness. There also are paid options to receive one-on-one coaching sessions from real-life coaches. This app is the one-stop shop to a better life and better resolutions by keeping you accountable for what you want to do.

Happy New Year everyone!

CHRISTA WITTMIER IS “SUPERCW” ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA. FIND HER ON SNAPCHAT, SOUNDCLOUD, TWITTER, VINE AND INSTAGRAM. BY NIGHT, SHE IS KNOWN AS DJ SUPERCW. BY DAY, SHE IS KNOWN AS SENIOR MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR YOUNG’S MARKET COMPANY OF HAWAII. HER NIGHTLIFE BLOG SUPERCITY RUNS EVERY WEDNESDAY ON HONOLULUPULSE.COM