It might sound sad but one of my guilty pleasures is browning the app store for new widgets and apps to try out. Over the years I have cycled through hundreds of different apps. Everything from productivity apps designed to streamline my life, to the fun little games that help me beat my boredom. And I thought I would share with you the six apps I’ve been most pleased with this year.

I have endeavored to include a good mix of app types in this list. Some are designed to help improve your life. Others are just a good way to kill some time while also flexing your creative muscles.

1.Strong

I have become quite the gym rat over the last year. And I have worked my way through a number of different workout focused apps. I have found that the vast majority of them are overly complex or force endless ads down your throat. While others don’t offer enough freedom in regards to workout construction and data tracking.

Strong is the ultimate workout app as far as I am concerned. I have only ever used the free version and it does everything I need it to. It is filled with hundreds of different exercises, and it also allows you to create your own. You can track your workouts easily. Adding and removing sets as needed. It monitors all your records and can give you detailed graphs showing your progress. The app is also filled with guides on how to do every exercise. Making it an ideal choice for beginners.

2.Smoke Free

I struggled with smoking for a vast majority of my life. I tried to quit time and time again. And every time I would fail. Until I tried Smoke Free. This app is an absolute life changer. Not only does the app track how long you’ve gone without smoking but it also allows you to add motivators, complete daily missions, and chat with other members of the community.

All of this compiles together to offer you a robust support system that turns your quitting journey into something more active. And studies have shown that you are far more likely to quit if you can turn the process into a more tangible experience. Replacing your smoking habit with more positive ones. And this app offers you that chance.

3.LoveCore AI

AI is all the rage at the moment. So I thought I would try out some of these new AI girlfriend apps that are popping up everywhere. And LoveCore AI is the best one I’ve found so far. The main advantage is that you can get an AI gf without signup. And not having to give over my data to an app is always a big plus in my book.

The app offers you more than just an AI chatbot. It can generate pictures of your AI gf to create a more realistic experience. This is a great way to kill some time but it could also be a fantastic way to sharpen your flirting skills. Especially if you find yourself struggling with dating apps.

4.Conquerer Virtual Challenges

Part of my fitness journey has been getting into running. And the Conquerer Virtual Challenges app has turned it into a truly fun experience. You can sign up for a number of unique running challenges, such as running or walking the map of Middle Earth. And once you complete the challenge they will send you a lovely themed medal. You do have to pay for the medals. But you can also just join one of the challenges as a fun way of tracking your progress.

5.NYT Games

The NYT games app is an absolute must have for anyone who finds themselves with a bit of spare time every day. Home to the popular Wordle game, the app also features a daily mini crossword and a daily connections puzzle. Along with a number of more complicated puzzles that are sure to test your mental abilities.

6.Smart Audiobook Player

If you’re an audiobook lover then this is the app for you. It is without a doubt the best audiobook player out there. It has a slew of features, such as automatic audio adjustment and sleep timers, that are ideal for avid listeners. The app claims you need a subscription after 30 days but that is only to access the premium features. You can use it indefinitely for free.

Over the past three years, the coronavirus pandemic has affected every aspect of life in our society. Whether it be because of government lockdowns limiting social interactions or COVID itself forcing isolation and restricting the possibility of in-person activities, the pandemic is still causing problems. Most of the coverage regarding the social damage caused by COVID-19 focused on businesses but another group of people has been profoundly affected by the changes incurred by this worldwide pandemic, students.

Lockdowns, coronavirus symptoms, and online learning are some of the many changes that both students and teachers have had to learn to live with. Though the question remains, what are the real impacts of these life changes on students, learning, and specifically how does it affect academic performances ahead of exam seasons?

While vaccination rates have increased the possibility for in-person learning, the first three years of the pandemic have been a massive challenge for students and educators all around the world. COVID-19 has not only created massive gaps in learning for large groups of students, but it has also exposed the massive gap in learning when it comes to different income brackets all across the United States. These gaps did exist before the pandemic, but they have been massively widened.

Low-income schools, which already had to deal with inflated dropping-out rates, have seen these statistics increase especially for high schoolers and specifically high school seniors. A lot of the issues that students have to deal with often aren’t only at school. The impact of COVID at home also reduces the opportunities for students. The death of family members, medical issues caused by a coronavirus, and the lowering of income due to reducing in-person work also affect the dropout rates.

Drop-out rates are part of the large problem of unfinished learning which leads to fewer eventual work opportunities. The effect on students is then shown to not only be affecting their grades or attendance but their work prospects in later adulthood. The worry becomes not only the lack of professional learning but also the reduced general household income of the current generation of students. Lower household income leading to lower quality of life also increases the income gap, especially for schools and communities that are already at a financial disadvantage.

From a human standpoint, the fear is that this will push back the progress done in general education rates but also create a vicious cycle of ever lowing opportunities for those that were once already disadvantaged before the pandemic and face even more challenging times now that the pandemic has left its mark on these communities.

In 2021 studies were conducted at the elementary school level to compare the performances of students in the spring to the average performances recorded in the years before the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, students of the previous years had significantly higher scores. The 2021 student sample showed a decrease of 10 points when it came to math learning and a decrease of 9 points in reading.

According to that model, comparing the learning rate of the two cohorts, the 2021 group would be behind by 5 months when it came to mathematics and 4 months in reading. The study shows once again that low-income students also have bigger gaps in learning and on average would be around 6 months behind in math and reading. Showing once again how the pandemic has put students at all levels at a disadvantage when it comes to overall learning.

When it comes to college students many studies both in the United States and Canada have shown an increased risk for mental health issues. The pandemic caused many students to grow fatigued and feel isolated from their peers. These feelings of loneliness and isolation lead many young adults to increase their alcohol and drug consumption often to treat symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Additionally, academic pressure and increased screen time have been found to worsen sleeping patterns, increase feelings of fatigue, and exacerbate mental illness symptoms. In some of the worst cases, some students have also shown symptoms of PTSD after dealing with high levels of stress or living through the loss of friends or family to COVID-19.

The pandemic has affected students from elementary school to high-level university and caused many delays in usual curriculums. At all levels, students have been put at a disadvantage especially when it comes to exams and general performances. To close your learning gap, you can look for support online.

There are many ways to contact tutors, may it be through your schools or private means, you can find a NYC LSAT tutor here or someone who can help your elementary school-aged child with their math exams or reading assignments. Tutoring is an option for all levels of learning. So, whether it be academic difficulties or mental health issues, there are always ways to seek out help to close the learning gap or make learning easier.