Apps I Like – November 2018

Todoist
Todoist is really more than an app – it’s a task system – and the best I’ve found so far. I used Remember the Milk for years (one of the first of its kind) and I still like it for lists, but Todoist has the #1 spot in my heart for ToDoing.

The thing I like most about it is the way it gathers items into lists of what needs to be done on THAT PARTICULAR DAY. You just set a date when you enter your item and if you’re looking at the date filtered interface, you don’t see anything that’s pertinent to that day. This also means that in the vein of a tickler/43 folders setup, you can enter an item months ahead that has to be done on a certain day and it will be there. And if you need to see all.the.things. of course, there’s an interface for that too. You can also set reminders for specific times for your items. 

Additionally, the entry interface is very easy/slick. It’s a single line and automatically picks up hashtagged categories/projects and dates and priorities. 

And last but not least, it has a gamification/accountability component that I find compelling. Every day I’m trying to get to To Do List zero which means I’ve either completed or postponed every item. I’m also trying to get a set number of tasks done daily and weekly. I can get streaks that I don’t want to break and points that level me up. It also has features for delegation and teams but I haven’t used those too much yet. 

Aaptiv
This one has been widely publicized, but if you haven’t heard of it yet, check it out. It has workouts that stream into your earbuds: treadmill, strength training, outdoor running, stretching, yoga, elliptical, meditation, walking, and more. They’ve got different trainers and a few different music selections to work with. 

It’s one of the most portable workouts out there and a really simple way to get those active minutes in. It has some accountability features too: you can calendar workouts, accumulate miles, calories, etc., and get reminders. 

It is not free though you can get it free for 30 days. I initially got it for going on our cruise and I ended up keeping it for a year and it’s been nice. And because it’s got a bunch of things, it feels more cost effective than services that just give you yoga or meditation or running workouts. Additionally, you are able to download workouts for those wifi-free sojourns. 

Skillshare
Skillshare is another app I’ve actually been willing to pay for. It is an app that provides video classes on a HUGE variety of topics. I got 3 months for 99c last January to help one of my 2018 goals – watercolor (which I’ve totally rocked, BTW) and kept it because I really do enjoy it.  

I’ve so far only used it for artistic/design stuff but there are lots more including scarf tying, interior decor, guitar, cooking, languages, business, technology and on and on. And you can also download classes for those wifi free times. 

Mile IQ
Mile IQ  automatically tracks all the miles I drive and sends them to me via email for reimbursement. All I have to do is classify them as personal or business and after you classify the same drive a couple times, it will ask you if you want to create a rule about that route (i.e. always personal or business and there are some subcategories too). 

It’s not a sexy or exciting app, but it saves me money. Though I paid for it – think it’s $49/year) – I have already made my money back as I have been historically awful about turning in my miles for work for reimbursement and I tend to leave quite a bit of $$ on the table, especially since my miles driven for work have increased over the past few years. 

Grateful
Grateful is a sweet little app where you simply record a few things from each day that you’re grateful for. It’s got a simple, visually pleasing interface. 

Timehop
Timehop is a perrenial favorite of mine. I’ve been using it for years. Each day it shows you what happened that day last year (it also syncs up holidays that occur on different dates each year, like Thanksgiving) so that you get a fun little walk down memory lane each day. It also serves to keep me motivated to keep at least taking photos each day! 

The Roku App
If you use any Roku devices, this is a must-have app. It does a couple of absolutely key things: 1) plays a sound on your Roku remote when it’s missing, 2) serves as a backup remote for your Roku and 3) allows you a keyboard interface for your Roku when it’s just tooooo painful to arrow to every letter of your 2392382 character password. 

You can also stream photos and music from your phone to your Roku AND you can use your phone for “private listening” from your Roku device (i.e. have the Roku stream sound to your device that you can then in turn listen to on headphones so as not to disturb others).