WORK SMARTER

Apps to achieve your best work-life balance ever

EVEN IF YOU LOVE YOUR BUSINESS, WORKING 24/7 SHOULDN'T BE AN OPTION

BY R.V. WINKLE

We turned to Lifehack. W org for the top apps to help achieve work-life balance. Here are some

of its recommendations:

1. STAY CALM WITH CALM

Calm is the number one app for meditation and sleep with over 100 million downloads. The app helps with sleep, stress, focus and self-improvement and its expertise includes a Director of Sleep Science. BONUS: Calm offers plans for companies to offer premium Calm services to employees. To check out Calm for your company, visit business. calm.com/plans.

2. STAY ON TASK WITH FOCUS BOOSTER

Focus Booster is based on the Pomodoro technique. The app allows you to set “focus” time windows and breaks and switch on the timer to start work. During your work-time you can’t stop the timer as your session won’t be recorded and added to your time sheet. PRO TIP: This app is essential for freelancers to bill their clients correctly by setting up hourly rates for each client and then just auto-tracking the time spent on the project.

3. BREAK BAD HABITS WITH WAY OF LIFE

One reason you might be struggling to achieve proper life balance are your habits – e.g. lack of proper sleep, poor diet etc. Way of Life helps you get rid of the bad ones and develop good ones instead. You can plot daily/weekly goals and track if you are meeting them. Your progress is visually displayed in form of bar charts with trend lines, scoreboards for instant feedback and multiple daily reminders.

4. TAKE BACK FAMILY TIME WITH COZI FAMILY ORGANIZER

Make sure you always have time for the family with the help of Cozi Family Organizer. The app allows you to manage family members’ schedules, appointments and activities, so you will never miss your kid’s football match again. Sync it with Google calendar, share to-do shopping lists and keep a family collection of recipes to shop by dish. The app is essential to organizing your family life efficiently and making sure you have time for everyone.

5. GET AND STAY FIT WITH MY FITNESS PAL

Myfitnesspal.com cites study after study that have confirmed the benefits of keeping track of the food you eat and the activity you do. It's simple - the more consistently you track your food intake, the more likely you are to lose weight. That's why every successful weight management program suggests that you keep a food diary and/or an activity log. But recording everything you eat without the right tools can be tedious at best, or simply impossible at worst. MyFitnessPal.com, focuses on making sure you can log your meals as quickly and easily as possible. Because the easier it is for you, the more likely you are to stay on track, and the more likely you are to succeed in your weight loss goals.

MAMA ODIE'S Q4 BusinessScope

WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WORK, A RAISE, OR A PROMOTION, LOOK TO THE STARS TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE IS HEADED. STARS TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE IS HEADED.

Aries

Lights, camera, Aries! Maybe it's the positive feedback from your annual performance review, or maybe it’s the hard apple cider from your office Friendsgiving party, but you’ve got confidence to spare this quarter. Like, even more than usual. While you’re still feeling bold, put yourself in front of the heavy hitters and decision-makers who can help you realize your vision in 2023.

Taurus

You’ll be home for the holidays, Taurus, exactly how you like it. You want nothing more this quarter than to cozy up with a mug of hot cocoa and your favorite holiday movies. Relaxation seems almost impossible when you’re gearing up for the holiday rush (wait – did you remember to send those company Christmas cards?), but the stars are giving you the green light to take that staycation you’ve been craving. If you don’t, you risk coasting into the new year on fumes.

Gemini

‘Tis the season of giving, Gemini, and you’re embracing this quarter’s altruistic spirit. You’re focused on putting others first this quarter, making this the perfect time to launch an employee giveback program or donate a portion of your holiday proceeds to a cause you care about. Just be mindful of how generous you are with your time and energy. The last thing you want is to raise your hand for too many projects, only to be frantically typing beneath the glow of the tree on Christmas Eve.

Cancer

When was the last time you bought yourself a present, Cancer? If it’s been a while, this is your year to splurge! You’re seeing more green than red this season and you’re determined to keep it that way. You’re likely to push yourself a little harder to meet those E.O.Y. financial goals now that you’re seeing your hard work pay off (literally), but remember to reward yourself with a just-for-fun treat afterward.

Leo

We all know who’s the superstar here (yes, Leo, that’s you), but the other stars are urging you to circulate and collaborate this quarter. Leos tend to go big (and not bother going home), so chances are you’ll need all-hands-on-deck for your 2023 endeavors. And whether new contacts are entering your orbit or you’re the one gravitating toward new industries, now’s the time to make the connections that will launch your career to new heights.

Virgo

If you don’t already believe in luck, you might after this quarter. The stars are sending you a surprise holiday gift. Just remember that good things can come in small, lopsided or slightly squished packages (no shade towards your wrapping skills; we’re just trying to make an analogy). Sometimes what doesn’t work out for you really works out for you, so that contract that falls through at the last minute might be a blessing in disguise.

Libra

Look out – Libras are coming in HOT this quarter. With January 1st on the horizon and E.O.Y. goals to meet, you’re ready to get down to brass tacks, plow through and get it DONE. With a cosmic boost of drive and determination, now’s a great time to wrap up all those lingering projects before the new year. Be careful not to overwhelm yourself (and everyone else you’re working with) since you’re likely to come on even stronger than usual.

Scorpio

Feeling the sting of gas prices lately? It’s you, us and everyone else. It’s time to make some sensible moves. You’re likely seeking an extra sense of security right now, and building a better budget might be just the thing to keep you grounded as the financial year comes to a close. A word of advice? You may find that you earn more by doing less when you put your time into the things that actually give you a return on your investment.

Sagittarius

Sagittarians love a good adventure, which is why you’re happy to be back on the “road less traveled” this quarter. You could find yourself at a turning point, ready to abandon one path to boldly pursue another. These synergistic skies spotlight your social network. Reach out to your peers for opportunities. One of them could make an introduction or pass along your resume to a perfect match.

Capricorn

In true Capricorn fashion, you’re making your list and checking it twice this quarter. You could feel a surge of motivation to get organized, decluttering your workspace at home or the office, filing away old papers and removing anything that's blocking your creative flow. While you don’t want to shred any important papers by accident (we’re speaking from experience), simplifying your space can do wonders in the way of clearing your mind and helping you get into a more manageable groove before the new year.

Aquarius

Our message to you is simple this quarter: breathe. Waterbearers are known for their big ideas and creative solutions, which is why you probably feel the pressure to go bigger and brighter than ever. Don’t get swept up in a tide of unfinished projects, tight deadlines or self-imposed expectations that you simply can’t meet. Identify your top three goals for the quarter, do your best to achieve them, then go home and do what you do best: drinking herbal tea while watching an incredibly niche movie that no one’s ever heard of.

Pisces

Pisces are known for making decisions with their hearts rather than their heads – a quality that could very well work in your favor this quarter. Data can tell you a lot, but it can’t speak to someone’s character. Your intuition is especially strong right now, so even if the numbers check out on a new deal you’re about to close, don’t ignore the little voice in the back of your head that’s telling you something’s off.