What are your goals for this year? Are you planning to reduce your work hours while increasing your exercise? Focus on your health and nurture your family relationships? Or perhaps you’ve decided to give up on New Year’s resolutions altogether, considering how often they fail.

As the celebration of New Year’s Eve fades, the reality of 2025 arrives: We still need to be productive, organized, and balanced. Can we really expect this year—and our resolutions—to be any different from past ones?

Whether you aim to meditate regularly, make your workdays more efficient, or explore your creativity, these apps can assist you in turning 2025 into a fulfilling year.

Finding Zen in a Balanced Life

Starting the new year with a collective sigh of relief is wise. I rely on the Headspace app for essential meditation sessions, especially when life feels chaotic. It offers more than just traditional meditations; Headspace now includes guided meditations for mindful movement and even podcasts.

Among the meditations, those focused on anxiety and self-esteem are particularly beneficial during my busiest weeks. You can try Headspace for free for two weeks, and an annual subscription costs just $70—a small investment for tranquility in 2025.

Exercise is also a fantastic way to relieve stress. That post-workout glow is unbeatable, but finding time for an hour-long jog can be challenging—especially when traveling.

My favorite for flexible workouts is FitOn, which allows me to choose from quick 10-minute ab workouts to calming yoga sessions right in my hotel room.

You can explore the app for free, but the Pro version with additional meal plans and features is fairly priced at $40 a year.

It’s clear that my schedule is tight. Finding time to read is tough, but I make it a bit easier with Blinkist. This app condenses nonfiction books into 15-minute summaries—like CliffsNotes for adults. I can catch up on productivity hacks and leadership insights while doing simple chores like folding laundry.

Another valuable reading resource is Libby. With a library card, you can borrow audiobooks and ebooks for free all year. Currently, I’m enjoying You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue (highly recommended). Using Libby saves a lot compared to purchasing books on platforms like Apple Bookstore, where prices can range from $5 to $20 each. Did I mention it’s completely free?

Simplifying Financial Management

As we discuss finances, it’s worth mentioning that while January is often a time for new resolutions, saving money should be an ongoing effort. Rocket Money (previously known as “Truebill”) consistently helps me save money each month. By linking it to your accounts, it identifies recurring subscriptions you might be unaware of. Did you forget about that streaming service you thought you canceled, or a free trial that quietly turned into a monthly fee? Rocket Money uncovers those spending leaks. It has a free trial, with premium features ranging from $6 to $12 a month, which pays for itself quickly.

Any savings you accumulate can be invested wisely. Stash is a user-friendly app that simplifies investing for beginners, allowing entry with as little as $5. It features educational tools and guides that transform investment challenges into opportunities for growth.

When the stress of life becomes overwhelming, Todoist can guide you. The app lets me view all my calendars in one place and keeps track of tasks and reminders from various platforms. For me, seeing everything in one glance improves my productivity. Todoist offers a free beginner plan, while the Pro plan costs $5 monthly or $48 annually.

Connecting and Creating

Who says being an adult can’t be enjoyable? Whenever I find myself with a few spare minutes, like while waiting at an airport or before a meeting, I unwind with Happy Color. It may sound juvenile, but coloring is a timeless activity, and these color-by-number pages for adults are incredibly satisfying.

With its calming designs, this tool prevents me from falling into the trap of endless scrolling, which is invaluable. The basic version is free, and there’s an option to pay for an ad-free experience.

While coloring is undeniably fun, parents often need to enforce screen time limits. Aura is incredibly easy to set up and use. It allows you to pause internet access, monitor what your kids are viewing, block specific sites, and effectively serve as a digital protector for their devices. It even integrates with popular apps like TikTok and Roblox that kids are currently drawn to. It’s akin to having digital training wheels, and you can give it a try for free, with a subscription costing approximately $10 each month or $120 annually.