Twelve apps to ease your digital journey

Twelve apps to ease your digital journey

AnkiDroid (for Android)/AnkiMobile (for Apple)

There are a lot of flashcard apps on the market, but none have a cult following like Anki. The app calculates when to revisit cards for optimal retention, and flashcards can include photos, videos and audio. Be warned, however: the Anki interface is no-nonsense and plain, and there are several copycat apps on the market. The app is free on desktop and Android devices, but requires a one-off payment of $24.99 on Apple phones.

Focus To-Do: Pomodoro & Tasks (Android)/Focus To-Do: Focus Timer & Tasks (Apple)

Write a to-do list, assign a time for each task, and then start a 25-minute timer with Focus To-Do. Tasks can have due dates and priority tags, and the clean interface is distraction-free. If you work better with emotional investment, try setting a timer and growing a tree — which dies if you leave the app — in Forest.

ScreenZen

The ScreenZen app limits mindless scrolling by encouraging you to pause before opening apps which you find distracting. The pause time can be customised to an unlimited number of seconds and pops up with a message like “Take a deep breath”. To hard block all apps on your phone (besides calls), use blockit.

Notion

Notion is one for organisational aficionados. Available on mobile and desktop, the app is customisable to every need, with numerous free templates online for everything from calendars, to-do lists, study note folders or hobby-tracking. If you prefer a simpler planning tool, try HabitNow.

Aavia

Built by women, for women, Aavia is an evidence-based and data-secure period tracker. The attractive interface, expert knowledge, and option to include different health conditions make Aavia a great tool for monitoring your period. The data collected may also be used as evidence in medical consultations.

Healthy Minds Program

Looking for something to increase your focus, manage stress or improve sleep quality? Try the Healthy Minds app, a library of meditations ranging from practices for mindful exercising and appreciating loved ones to 1-minute micro meditations for feeling overwhelmed. Amid a glut of meditation apps, Healthy Minds stands out for its attractive interface and free access.

Hevy

Crafting a workout routine has never been this easy. In Hevy, you can search for different exercises, such as a bicep curl or squat, and add them to a custom routine. Each exercise can be filtered by equipment or muscle group. You can also follow pre-made programmes and track your progress, including a weekly heat map of muscles worked.

Ground News

Read the news from multiple perspectives in this news comparison app. Ground News collects stories from around the world and links to articles from left-wing, centrist and right-wing media outlets. A useful ‘blindspot’ tab highlights information you may have missed depending on your political biases.

Built-in personal safety app

An easy method of contacting loved ones when you’re in danger is a must-have. Check your device’s built-in safety app, like Personal Safety on Pixel phones or Safety Check on Apple devices, and set up emergency contacts. Then check how to quickly activate location-sending SMS texts and set your camera to record evidence.

Beelinguapp

Improve your language skills by listening to and reading your favourite books, articles and music. Beelinguapp offers a library of texts in 23 languages on topics from culture to health, politics and classic literature, all narrated by a native speaker with translations beneath. You can also read the news in different languages, updated daily.

Settle-Up

Never battle over the bill again with Settle-Up, an app that does the maths for you. Simply create a group, invite friends through a link or QR code scan and add unlimited expenses in 169 currencies. Members can add costs without installing the app, and spending is balanced across each member.

Polarsteps

An all-in-one travel app for insider tips, route-planning and photo-journalling your holiday experiences. Collect photos and videos from your visits and plot them onto a virtual globe. You can also share your trip journal with non-users and pay to have your memories printed into a photo album at the end of your trip.