As we become more and more reliant on one-touch solutions and less able to use our own two legs, there are certain apps and services that’ve absolutely boomed in the last couple years. We look at a few of them that you absolutely didn’t need a year ago, but probably can’t picture surviving a week without these days.
30/30 is the grand daddy of all ‘to do’ lists. Throw down what you need to accomplish, color code it, prioritize it (so you actually write that report and face down those spreadsheets before catching up on ‘The Newsroom’), and even allot an optimal amount of time per task to keep yourself on track. If you’re one of those people who are only driven by screaming deadlines (read: anyone we know), this is going to become that voice in your head that can keep you on point.
By now you’ve signed up for the free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, forgotten to cancel it before the end of the month, and now find yourself a paid-up member. Don’t feel bad; we’re pretty sure that’s how 95% of us found ourselves in this spot. But if you haven’t yet started making the most of your membership, hop to it. More than just electronics and streaming shows and music, the AP will eliminate the need to ever go to the drug store again. Deodorant, razor blades, toilet paper, dish soap — Prime it, son.
And rolling out ‘hood by ‘hood is AmazonFresh, which will lend the drone services to your grocery list as well. Think of it — a world where you never have to interact with people at the register!
With gift-giving season pushing squarely against your collarbone and hissing in your ears, wouldn’t it be nice to have a super cool one-stop-shop at which to get unique presents for people, rather than making it rain gift cards? Of course it would. And although they’ve got some unique things, Etsy’s a little too sparkly/glue-gunny for us. Enter Quirky, a site that funds amateur idea-makers and inventors and brings their products to life. Most are hacky and why-didn’t-I-think-of-that-y, so great for stocking stuffers. And your cold heart will be warmed at the thought of your cash going to some at-home idiot savant rather than a Walton.
There are too many fitness apps to list, and you hopefully already have one that works for you. But does that mean you’ll use it, especially as the temperature dips and cookies begin to appear on your desk, unrequested, and on a daily basis? No. That’s why we like Pact, an app that keeps us from hitting ‘snooze’ and forces us to hit the gym when we’d rather be just about anywhere else. It’s basically a way of guilting you to the weight room. When you’re feeling your most ambitious set a weekly goal, and if you don’t meet it, your credit card is charged. If that’s not motivation enough, we don’t know what is.
Driving yourself anywhere’s so … basic. Just ask a Lohan. As such, a bunch of rideshare and cab alternatives have popped up in recent years, and they’re spreading from urban centers to rural enclaves. You’ve likely already used Uber, which’s one of the biggest and best of the driver-on-demand services. Cashless and convenient, with the ability to split fares and arrive feeling slightly VIP, Uber’s around for the long haul. But ohmagod the surge pricing! The minute a drop falls from the sky, or the game gets out, expect to be put through the ringer.
A great alternative is Lyft. These guys are the friendly, casual alternative to the big U. Their tag line is “Hop in the front seat and greet your driver with a friendly fist-bump,” and said driver is likely a student or shift worker or just someone like you who could use a bit of extra dough to help with holiday shopping.
