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Motivational apps (Android edition): how they work and why they’re great

About two months ago, my productivity level was much lower than usual, so I decided to find a solution to this problem, that’s how simple my thought process is most of the times: problem -> solution. I didn’t really spend much time researching the causes, I just knew I needed to fix it as soon as possible because the quality of my work and even my health were being affected. It was quite clear to me that I had to get my motivation level up somehow, because those motivational peaks usually get me going in any scenario, regardless of how I got there in the first place. Motivation is relevant to everyone for that matter. It’s what makes you better at your job, but if your job requires you to be constant in your results, than getting motivated daily can be tricky.

After some research, I decided to give motivational apps a go, and see if they really work. The truth is that most motivational apps can work, it all depends if you use them or not. I’m sure we all have plenty of apps installed, but we only use a few of them, even if the others would be useful as well. I have 35 installed apps right now (besides the stock ones), out of which I maybe use 15. My point is that no matter how good an app is, the deciding factor will still be whether you can get used to utilize it, and whether it improves your personal or professional life in any way.

After testing about 25 motivational apps, I only kept 3 of them, which I will describe below and explain how they work. Because I am mostly an Android user, this first article will be about Android apps, but it will have an iOS follow-up. By no means are these the only apps you should use, but knowing how some of the best motivational apps work will give you a head-start in your search for inspiration:

Forest: Stay focused

I’ll start with the very first motivational app I started using on a daily basis. Because my work can benefit a lot from uninterrupted time chunks in which I can focus 100% on the task at hand, I try to eliminate the other distractions however I can. This is actually related to productivity and time management as well – the art of saying “No” is as valuable as speakers/trainers praise it to be. With colleagues I have an understanding on the interruption situations, I can block background noise using my headphones, but I never really had anything to remind me I should check my phone less. We tend to underestimate how much time and attention this habit consumes every day. Checking our phones is more addictive than we think, and sometimes we could use a little help to control ourselves. Enter Forest – the perfect example of a simple concept that can have a significant effect.

What is it good for?

Keeping you off your phone for a selected timespan, so you can focus on important tasks. The app also motivates you along the way to ‘keep going’, ‘stay focused’, and ‘stop looking at your phone’. The reward system also acts as a motivational factor for you to keep using the app.

How it works?

The concept of the app revolves around planting a tree that can either grow nice and tall over a selected time period, or wither and die if the process is interrupted (i.e. you close the app before your timeframe is completed).

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Your results will be added to your daily forest, which shows weekly progress. A reward system is also in place that will let you unlock different features of the app, or even types of trees, if you have enough planted trees.

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The Forest app can be as restrictive as you need it to be. Calls and text will still happen, but you can choose which apps could kill your tree if you use them while still in a work session.

Price: The app is free to use, but with an Ad free option and more features for $1. Download

Fabulous – Motivate Me!

Probably one of the most useful apps for personal improvements, Fabulous uses scientific facts to motivate you. The interface looks great, and it’s very easy to use. Focusing on your habits, Fabulous helps you develop a better routine to improve your energy levels, focus, health, and more. It acts as a gentle instructor that makes your morning, afternoon, and evening rituals better, by tempering with you habits, and suggesting other ones that are scientifically proven to work.

The great thing about this app is that the process is gradual, nothing is rushed. If you want a faster, more impactful change, you can add/change more habits, but you can have a progressive approach as well. I remember my first suggested ritual: ‘Drink water first thing in the morning’. If felt like such an insignificant change back then, but it actually improved my energy level, and helped me eat healthier over time. I use Fabulous daily, especially in the morning. It’s my advanced alarm clock.

What is it good for?

Improving energy levels, focus, health, and others, through a set of rituals (with reminders/alarms) that are proven to work. The app also motivates you through letters and articles, which make you feel like you’re part of a much bigger team that works together to improve.

How it works?

Your journey starts once you selected what you want to improve (i.e. energy, health, focus, and others). Based on your choice, you will be required to develop a set of rituals, with some of the best options suggested by the app. Once added to your daily routine, these rituals will have reminders or alarms in place, you only need to check them after completion.

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The reward system is based on challenges that you complete along the way – most of which require you to follow your rituals – example: drink water first thing in the morning for 3 days in a row. Your achievements will unlock motivational letters, articles, and more. Weekly reports also help you keep track of you overall progress.

This is a smart approach to personal improvements. A lasting change is in fact about the habits that you develop and keep.

Price: Believe it or not, this great app is free, but contains in-app purchases. Download

Productivity Challenge Timer

Probably the best looking motivational app ever created, Productivity Challenge Timer is an excellent tool for everyone that’s trying to be more productive and motivated at work. Based on your work habits, this app tracks your activity and ranks your overall performance. Excellent both for solo, or team projects, Productivity Challenge timer will follow your work session duration, so you can identify when and why your productivity peaks happen.

By nature most of us are not engineered to work at full capacity all the time, but if we could identify what makes our motivation and creativity skyrocket, then we could harness that power when it’s most needed. Productivity Challenge Timer helped me identify some surprising motivational factors that I now use whenever I need extra productivity at work.

What is it good for?

Keeping track of your work projects, time and resources invested, with very useful stats and achievements sections.

How it works?

Simpler than most: add endless projects, plus invested time/resources, work sessions, and just follow your progress and achievements. This app isn’t meant to organize your work, but rather to make you work harder.

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As the funny-edgy-no-nonsense app description goes: “The purpose of this app is not to promote a healthy work-life balance, but to get you to work harder. Because of this, it does not recognize weekends or holidays, or parenting, or any other excuse to take time off, and it will demote you if you start slipping. Please don’t expect the app to validate your goals, its sole purpose is to make you work harder, even when you shouldn’t.”

Price: The app is free, but contains in-app purchases. Download

Motivation is very important for your work. Even if you landed your dream job, some events can still bring your morale down. In my experience, finding the switch that gives you enthusiasm whenever you need it can turn you into a great employee/manager, and a better, more active person through the rest of the day.