One of the most refreshing things to do at the start of a New Year is to look back on everything you got to do throughout the year prior.
Sure, you could just scroll back through your Twitter, Instagram, or mobile photo collection. For the ultimate refresher on where you've been over the last twelve months, however, the best choice is to start using a year in review app.
Here are some great options that provide an account of all of your highest highs—and, if you choose, your lowest lows—at the end of the year to help you appreciate the past and motivate you for the future.
1. 1 Second Everyday
3 ImagesIf there's one app on this list that we can recommend above all else, 1 Second Everyday is it. The concept is brilliant, and the daily commitment is beyond minimal.
This app asks you to capture the most meaningful second of every day—a great meal, a serendipitous coincidence, a moment of celebration, or anything else that you'll want to remember as you look back in coming years.
1 Second Everyday teaches you to appreciate the simple things in life, even on boring, nondescript days. A ladybug on your windowsill? A million-dollar smile on your kid's face? When the right moment comes, you'll know it viscerally.
This is one creative way to record all of the things in your life that actually matter to you, even if you're not exactly the artsy type. Your one-second-a-day compilation will be a delight to look back on at the end of the year.
Is there a better way to help yourself feel more motivated and kickstart a positive outlook on the new year than looking back at your favorite memories and accomplishments from the one that's just ended?
Download: 1 Second Everyday for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
2. DayGram: One Line a Day Journal
3 ImagesDayGram is a lot like 1 Second Everyday but, instead of saving short videos, it asks you to throw down just one show-stopping line each day. Then, you are free to write more in the details of each entry if you choose.
This journaling app is great if you journal as part of your wellness routine (or if you want to start this fantastic habit). Having a year's worth of digital diary entries viewable at a glance makes it easy to chart your journey and see how far you've come. We love DayGram's electronic ink theme and minimalist appeal, both of which are customizable. It's the perfect app for consistent journaling, especially if you're just starting the habit. With just one line, you're good to go.
Download: Daygram for Android (Free) | iOS ($0.99)
3. FoodView Food Journal
3 ImagesThere are plenty of calorie-counting apps that you can use to monitor your own eating habits or fitness goals. But FoodView isn't a strict diet tracker.
Instead, FoodView is a simple, photo-based food diary app. It documents nothing aside from the date, the time, and the photo that you took.
This app is like foodie Instagram solitaire. If you've got an online presence and social brand to maintain, you can use Food View to collect all of your favorite miscellaneous bites without spamming your feed. Snap a photo of a spontaneous yet memorable weekday tossed salad or the cheeky Ferrero Rocher that topped off a cozy evening at home.
It's a much less granular (and potentially more productive) way to pay more attention to what you eat and lean toward healthier options. If logging every ingredient of every meal hasn't stuck for you as a habit, a simple photo log might be enough for you to decide in favor of some bright green vegetables over a salty, fatty side.
Download: FoodView for Android (Free)
4. Polarsteps
3 ImagesThis is an excellent end-of-the-year memory app for travelers. Whether you plan on taking a life-changing trip or simply set a goal to travel more in the coming year, Polarsteps can help you store memories of your journey.
Polarsteps lets you plan trips and then automatically tracks your travels. You can also share your journey with followers on the platform. In addition, you're free to add any trips that you took before installing the app, complete with photos and videos.
The tracking functionality of Polarsteps should only cost you an additional 4 percent of battery life during your trip, on average. That's not too shabby, especially if your destination is somewhat remote.
WIth Polarsteps, you'll be able to record your backpacking trip through Appalachia or the Far East without missing an unforgettable beat. At the end of the year, you'll have an incredible record of your travels to look back on and, hopefully, feel inspired for an adventurous new year.
Download: Polarsteps for Android | iOS (Free)
Related: The Best Microchanges to Make to Your Life This New Year
5. Way of Life Habit Tracker
4 ImagesWith Way of Life, you keep a daily journal documenting your progress in one or more areas of life—flossing or getting back into the gym, for example. The app offers a list of many common goals that you can choose from, just in case you're not entirely sure where to begin.
Way of Life beat other habit trackers for a spot on this list for one reason: its UI design. Your success on a given day is made incredibly clear through a series of green and red blocks.
This simple yet effective design choice is the perfect tool to help you be more aware of how your choices and habits affect your wellness.
Are you drinking enough water throughout the day? Before Way of Life, the answer might've been overly-confident: "Sure I am." By tracking your habits, though, the truth is undeniable and could motivate you to make real progress as a result.
Download: Way of Life for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Online Photo Apps and Services
Services like Google Photos and Facebook usually offer something in the way of a personalized year in review round-up of your photo memories. Similar features exist in other apps, such as Memories in iOS Photos.
How these memories are curated and packaged depends on the service's algorithms and, probably, how many views and likes a post has received throughout the year.
The best part of these features is seeing all of the wonderful memories that you've all but forgotten in just the past year. It's the little things that make life worth living, but it's easy to forget them amid all of your responsibilities and tasks.
Take a moment to reflect on those details that brought you joy and look forward to more on the way.
Related: How to Stay Motivated This New Year
Your Year in Review: Savor Every Highlight Next New Year's Eve
When you lock the past away in a black box, you risk losing touch with yourself and all the wonderful things you've accomplished.
As the new year arrives, you can use these apps to remind yourself of how far you've come and inspire yourself to try new experiences, set new goals, and give yourself a lot to look forward to in the coming year.
