Image via Complex Original
Life can be a challenge. Between work, hanging out, staying fit and everything in between, it can feel like there isn’t the time or enough resources to get it all done. But, let’s be honest, this isn’t entirely true. The world’s biggest obstacles deserve out-of-the-box answers. Inspired by Powerful Answers, a Tumblr that challenges people to rethink how mobile technology can make their life better, we’ve compiled 10 apps that ease some of life’s everyday hurdles. To paraphrase William Ernest Henley: Become the master of your fate.
RELATED: The Best Apps to Distract You From Work
RELATED: The Best Apps of 2013 (So Far)
RELATED: Sneaker Report - Ranking the Best Apps for Athletes
RELATED: Sneaker Report - 10 Fitness Apps for a Healthy 2014
Nike+ Running
A fan favorite among runners, Nike+ Running lets you track distance (using GPS), calories burned, and your pace and time. Finally, you’ll accurately be able to declare your best time ever. Workout bragging rights are also built right into it, as it allows you to post your run right to Facebook—just keep it humble.
Jamie Oliver’s Recipes
Platform: iOS; Free
Let’s be honest, girls like guys who can cook. Also, eating out gets pricey fast. Learn to impress and save money in the meantime with Jamie Oliver’s Recipes app. The chef, who is known for his TV presence and strides in revamping food education, lays out step-by-step recipes for hundreds of dishes, including photos and ingredient lists. And for those who need an extra helping hand there are even videos.
Fancy
Platform: iOS, Android; Free
If you’re the guy always looking for the next best thing—and we know you are—this app is for you. Fancy crowd-curates the best of what’s for sale on the web and delivers it to you on a polished platform. You’ll be ahead of the game without having to set foot in a store.
Charity Miles
If you’ve been avoiding giving back because you can’t pick a charity, or don’t feel like you have the time, Charity Miles is your answer. The app monitors your outdoor walking, biking, or running exercise and donates money for every mile you cover to the charity of your choosing—you can even work with different organizations. (For bikers 10 cents; runners get 25 cents.)
Things
Platform: iOS; $10
The busier life gets, the harder it is to manage (or even remember) the day-to-day tasks that creep up. That’s where Things comes in. Simpler in design than its counterparts, the app helps with managing the day’s to-dos, what’s coming up, and even has a place to store those random ideas that fly into your head.
Google Translate
International travel is always easier with someone who knows the language. Without that person, you’re going to need a translator. Google Translate can interpret different languages through voice, text-to-speech, and conversation, or by reading foreign scripts. It will even remember what you translated if you need it later.
Waze
We’ve all had one of those mornings: You’re racing to work (running late, of course) when you find yourself stuck behind an accident. Waze won’t wake you up in the morning, but it can help you get to work on time. The community-based traffic app is powered by members dropping pins for common violators, like accidents, traffic jams, and police, onto a shared map. Consider a few of your problems solved.
Chef’s Feed
Platform: iOS; Free
Save Yelp for amateur hour. Chef’s Feed is a chef-powered restaurant guide; ideal for helping you impress even the pickiest dinner dates. Not only does the app suggest locales to check out in 24 cities across the country, it also recommends specific items. Consider meal regret over.
Speakeasy Cocktails
Platform: iOS, $5
The days of putting out a cheap six pack and calling it a day are over—a good host knows how to make an even better cocktail. This easy-to-use app tells you what ingredients, tools, and skills you need to mix up the most classic libations. Practice before your party and you won’t even have to tell your friends about the app.
Sleep Cylce
Platform: iOS; $2
It’s easy to disregard this vital part of the day, but a good night’s rest is an integral part of daily success and basic function. Sleep Cycle won’t put you to bed, but it will help you understand what’s happening once you’re in REM. It monitors your sleep through the night and according to the site wakes you up with a 30-minute alarm window, which ends at your set alarm time and wakes you in your lightest sleep phase.