or review of my current ‘can’t live without’ app ecosystem !
So below are the top five apps (ok six, I included an extra one) and a bit of commentary on why I rely on them to support my state of wellness. I wrote previously about how I’ve noticed an influx for app ecosystems to help us learn self-regulation and overall keep our state of wellness anchored more on the side of flourishing. The reasons for this appear to be grounded in behavioural design and appeal to my fundamental core values so I delved into that a little too. Check it out here.
Initially, this app found its way downloaded to my phone in (2017) as I was in a lack lustre job and struggling to find fulfilment. So, bored and without much stimulation, I started to monitor my daily food intake. I set myself the mental and physical challenge to help me achieve the overall goal of losing weight.
Around April, I rebooted it, in fact I have just passed the milestone of 55 days of consecutive use — habit well and truly set. And this time around, although I’m tracking my food intake and hoping to ensure I balance it with enough exercise to maintain my current weight or possibly shed some winter bulge, the sophistication of my requirements has increased. The goal this time is to achieve under 60Kgs within the next five weeks. I’m on track for that. It’s important to know that at the outset I weighed about 62.5 Kgs and I’m 174cm tall, so while my markers for weight loss aren’t overly lofty, one might ask why I’m bothering to set the attainment measure in the first place?
I draw on the evidence and experience of the first time I installed the app. While I wasn’t happy in myself and I felt the need to improve on who I was, it feels that this current experience is more informed. I’m curious to learn what my diet actually is telling me. Is it sustainable and how will I manage cravings and energy lulls without overly high calorie intake? Am I levelling that energy intake with enough activity to cancel out any ‘blow outs’ is another conversation I find I’m having with myself.
In May 2021 I enlisted the support of another app that specifically complements the food intake/weight loss tracking activities of MyFitnessPal but helps with regulating the amount and style of fitness I’m participating to keep me motivated and exercising. While there are many options for online exercise classes I’ve installed actress Halle Berry’s co-founded fitness app: FitOn.
I have to say that I’m on the path to being a diehard convert to it. Reasons for this app winning over and above others? Perhaps the most surprising is the interplay that this app has with eliciting nostalgia. From age 15 I would rise religiously each morning and pre-breakfast, bleary-eyed I’d turn the television on, clear a space in the lounge room large enough for me to cover a grapevine while the totally analogue generational program: Aerobics Oz Style would play on free-to-air.
That early riser habit has stuck with me throughout the years and so with FitOn I sense that there is a part of me that reverts to my 15-year-old self each time I set up the phone to broadcast a class. Not only am I’m triggered with nostalgia for my younger and no doubt fitter self, but I’m reminded of the happiness I used to feel when I was participating in a group fitness class like Aerobics Oz Style and woah, baby, Fran pictured in the black is back for ISO viewing.
I can see myself back in my family home lounge room and recollect the feelings of hope and optimism I had for my life and how this 6:30 am class ritual was setting me up for success. BJ Fogg a Standford University Professor (and guru) of Behavioural Design would (should he be sat on my shoulder)say: “I bet that this is a perfect example of how ‘sensation’ makes someone feel into a pleasure state on an emotional level and thus is intrinsic to creating motivation and instilling habits.” Or something like that!
Aside from delivering that bouncy wave of 80s-legwarmer, high-cut leotard bodies-by-the-beach nostalgia (also being reinterpreted right now for the masses via Rose Byrne’s appleTV show Physical) the app covers a diverse range of exercise styles and formats.
Whether I’m feeling barre, pilates, yoga or dance, there seems to be something for any intensity. I can filter ‘for equipment’ and or if I’m feeling inspired I can try my hand at new lesser-known to me styles like an EMOM (Every Movement on the Minute) or Tobago Torch style classes… eep they are tough. The point is that the selection is personal to me and my mood and how I’m wanting to direct my fitness that day. “Hello, empowered self! You go girl!”
One of the other brilliant features of this app, and look others might have it but I haven’t explored them, comes through the way it talks to me. For example the number of workouts I’m actively logging sets the app up to become your new best friend. It cheers me on and offers me challenges to complete and without me needing to monitor it the amount of calories expended is being recorded so I can then feel good about the level of effort I’ve invested. Note: I then take that figure and add it to the MyFitnessPal app.
I also enjoy that I can casually get to know the instructors and feel closer to them as a result. That they have streamlined their class offering to develop their workout streams and paths for me as a user to follow adds to that effect. Here again, Mr Fogg would probably chime in and say: “that’s right the FitOn app crew have made sure to factor in creating a sense of belonging” which is another key component to his formula for sustained motivation!
I’d bet that I’m like a lot of women with this next one. Yep. I’ve got an app to track my monthly cycle. The one I rely on is Clue. Again there are a few out there, but this one does what I want it to and every few days I’ll log in to sense check how I am feeling. I will track my mood, check-in on my overall state of wellbeing, ingest the number of minutes I spend meditating, and keep an eye on what is happening internally with my digestion. At the end of each cycle, I’ll be left with a monthly picture or trending analysis of how I’ve been feeling in the lead up to my period. It’s a useful app. I can also tell when my PMS might be about to hit and can prepare to catch it before it happens if I’m quick enough to, you know?
Chopra Meditation App
I also have my meditation app. Deepak Chopra’s Chopra app. It’s a life-altering daily practice that has allowed space for huge benefits and internal behaviour shifts to take place. It’s the combination of hearing Deepak’s soothing voice, his interrogation of what it is to lead an examined life, and his beyond powerful wisdom that helps ignite curiosity and fire in me to look at life from all angles. To focus on my purpose and to know that no matter how frustrated I might be feeling that it’s worth forging forth with it all…this crazy life. And as I reflect on its support to me, it’s a preventative wellness app rather than a treat the symptom style consultation. If you do the internal transformation work, you won’t be as bothered by external circumstance and your levels of resilience will increase.
My self worth is directly affected by my career success, as it is for you dear reader I’m sure. Along with the other apps mentioned I have enlisted the support of a career app that tracks career wins — PepTalkHer. This app is super useful as who doesn’t want to keep track of their successes? This app is a lifesaver because it provides the space to collate the evidence that you are indeed very good at your job, and that you’re actually doing it all — and brilliantly.
The broader mission for PepTalkHer is to close the gender pay gap so this app, company and founder speak to my highest self on a daily basis and remind me the power of negotiation as a woman, which is a pretty awesome additional perk. “Yes she’s (I mean me) I’m a BOSS!”
Speaking of being a Boss there is one other wellness app that I will add to the list. I’ve used it on and off and recommended it to friends and it’s everyone’s wanna-be best friend Zoe’s Foster Blake’s witty and light-hearted creation. It’s the Break-Up Boss app. Plainly stated I wouldn’t have gotten through my first breakup without this app and its advice as I was navigating a never before encountered galaxy: heartbreak.
Lucky for it and me this app has found its reboot button a few times. Re-installing it and following its sage but satirical advice always advised in any ‘heart hurt’ type of situation. It’s not so much a tracking app, but it’s a humour-filled approach to regulating yourself and your emotions when you are separating from someone you invested your time and energy in. Because Zoe is a master at understanding the female mindset she’s nailed this app and I wonder if there is a Mach 11 version soon to be released? Though it’s quite perfect as it is!
So there you go, it’s my current go-to list of apps for self regulation in 2021. What apps do you feel you can’t get by without? Am I just a geek for writing this in lockdown? Probably, but it’s also part of my curiosity to understand what is driving my behaviour.
In fact, I’m keen to understand the ‘why’ on most things especially regarding brand and strategy. So if you find you need a collaborator for your projects please reach out… I’m currently ‘staying home’ so you could say I’m a captive audience.
