Keeping your New Year’s Resolutions is easier said than done. For many of us, our enthusiasm for self-improvement flags by the end of January. Fortunately, there’s help out there. The following apps are super accessible and useful tools that can help you stay on track for the entire semester. The best part? They’re college-student affordable– a.k.a. completely free.Â
Resolution #1: Be more moneywise.Â
Free app solution: Splitwise.
Is is a struggle every month to remember when your rent is due? Did Stacy pay you back for that mojito last night?
Whether you’re the girl who always forgets her wallet or the one who is always spotting her other friends, keeping track of expenses and IOU’s can be tricky. Money matters are not something to be taken lightly and can cause a great deal of stress and tension between friends and roommates.Â
Free app Splitwise for web, iPhone, and Android helps you split bills and keep track of who owes who, so you can keep your resolution to be more money-conscious in the New Year.
Resolution #2: Drink less.
Free app solution: Mydrinkaware.Â
My personal favorite.
This resolution tends to be very popular among those of us who had a particularly rowdy New Year’s Eve. In general, it is sound advice for any college student.Â
Mydrinkaware is a free app for web, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry that can help you keep track of the money and calories you spend/expend on alcohol. In doing so, you can make more informed and safety-conscious decisions about your alcohol consumption.Â
This app can be an excellent self-check tool in a party situation… use it to determine at which point you should slow down or call it quits.Â
Resolution #3: Survive your long-distance relationship.
Free app solution: Between.
College is a time of constant change and self-discovery. You should be free to make decisions to ensure your own happiness. But what about those of you with an SO in tow?Â
Long-distance relationships are a big challenge for many collegiettes. Whether you and your significant other are high-school sweethearts attending different colleges, study-abroad students, or college students graduating at different times, long distance is never easy.Â
One of the number one reasons for failure in a long-distance relationship is a lack of communciation.Â
Free app Between for iPhone and Android lets you share special memories with your SO… and make the distance a little more bearable.
Resolution #4: Give your mother less to worry about.
Free app solution: Circle of 6.
Whether or not this is actually one of your resolutions for the New Year, it certainly can’t hurt.
The Circle of 6 app for iPhone and Android lets you easily connect to six chosen contacts. Circle of 6 is designed specifically for college students who have a habit of getting into sticky situations from time to time. Use the app to discreetly and quickly get in contact with someone you trust the next time you’re out late at night or at a party in need of an assist.Â
Resolution #5: Eat healthier.
Free app solution: Food sense.
The holidays are all about putting on enough weight to last you through the frigid winter. You probably want to lose your holiday “fluffiness” by Spring Break, however.
Food sense for iPhone allows you to understand your own food sensitivities by monitoring your heart rate in response to the food you eat. It can help you avoid foods that cause poor brain performance and weight gain. Sounds like a win-win-win to me.Â
And on that note…
Resolution #6: Develop a workout schedule… and stick to it!
Free app solution: Fitocracy.
Free app Fitocracy for iOS, Android, and web not only lets you keep track of your workouts, but is also a social media outlet to connect with other gym-goers. A little inspiration from the community and your Fitocracy friends might be the extra incentive you need to hit the gym after class.Â
Are there any free apps that you are using to stay on top of your New Year’s Resolutions? Let us know! Contact Katie Meikle at katiemeikle@hercampus.com.