The Best Apps for Intentional Living

Phone use is a part of every day life in this culture. Technology is not inherently bad or good, it is simply a tool for us to use. It’s something we need to steward, use well, and notice how it affects us and those around us.

In an effort to reduce phone time, I’ve been using some apps that help keep me off my phone and keep me from mindlessly scrolling. I have a few apps and shortcuts I like to use that I’d like to share with you today. I’m also going to share some apps that work as effective tools for intentional living — these apps support my goals and streamline every day activities. Keep scrolling to see my favorite digital minimalism apps and favorite intentional living apps!

My Favorite Apps for Digital Minimalism

One Sec App - I just recently downloaded this app and it has been phenomenal! It’s reduced my endless scrolling and social media app usage. Once you download this app, it walks you through setting up a shortcut on your phone. The shortcut automatically opens the one sec app when you open up an app of your choosing (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Mail or whatever app you’d like to stop opening up absentmindedly). The one sec app asks you to take a deep breath and decide whether you want to open your chosen app. You can choose to continue opening it or not. If you choose to continue opening the app, you can select an intention for opening the app. For me, I do some blog work on Instagram, so I’ve added that as an intention, but sometimes I’m just bored or tired and I choose that intention if that’s where I’m really at at the moment. I often avoid the apps I’ve set the shortcut on unless I really truly want to open them now!

Screen Time - this isn’t so much an app as it is a feature on the iPhone. I’ve set up Downtime and App limits as another layer to keep me off my phone at certain times of the day. For Downtime, I start by adding a schedule - I’ve set up a schedule for everyday from 8:30pm - 8am. When my downtime schedule turns on, all but a few apps essentially “turn off” and I’m unable to view them. The only drawback is I can ignore downtime limits. Sometimes this is good when I need to use an app within that schedule, but other times, it’s easy to just ignore it. This schedule allows you to ignore the limit for one minute, fifteen minutes, or ignore for the day. So sometimes I can open the app for the short period of time that I need it and then return to the app being off limits.

I also use screen time to set app limits for certain apps like Instagram and TikTok. I’ve set a limit of 30 minutes per day for these apps. Once I reach the 30 minute time limit, the app “shuts off” as with downtime, but allows me to ignore it for the one minute, fifteen minutes, and for the day as well.

Focus - this works similarly to screen time, it’s a function on my phone as well. I love using focus for work and for Sabbath/the weekend. I can choose to allow certain people to text or call and allow certain apps to push notifications to me, otherwise everything else will not ping me when the notification comes through. Whenever I open my phone I can see the notification, but otherwise I can go hours without being disturbed. I can set up a schedule for these like “when I arrive at work” or Saturdays and Sundays from 8am-8pm.

I might also add that turning off notifications for all of your apps makes a huge difference if you want to start with one small step. Social media and marketing notifications need not bother you in your journey to living a more intentional and more present life!

My Favorite Apps for Intentional Living

These apps help keep me on track for my goals and growth in intentional living. They create an ease in choosing better things in my life!

Read Scripture - this app acts as a Bible reading plan. It’s easy to follow along in the readings and catch up as needed if you fall behind. If you’re wanting to read through the Bible in a year, this app is a great place to start!

the Bible Project - this app houses all of the Bible Project’s videos and blog posts. If you’re reading along on the Read Scripture app, this is a fantastic companion to watch all of the videos that correspond to your daily reading.

Lectio 365 - this app is also a great place to start for daily scripture reading and prayer. Either turn on the audio in the car or read through the prompts each morning and evening.

Youversion Bible - this app started simply as a Bible in digital form, but it has since grown to include hundreds of devotionals as well as short teachings and prayers for their verse of the day. I love to have the Bible app widget on my home screen to look at the verse of the day each time I open my phone.

Libby - the Libby app connects directly to the local library to check out e-books and audiobooks! I’ve recently started listening to more nonfiction audiobooks and this has been a fun way to access them for free. I can place multiple holds on audiobooks or e-books at one time & have two weeks to read them. I’ve asked for extensions and they’ve been granted to me, so if you’re a slower reader, no worries!

Libro.fm -this app works similarly to Audible, but the monthly membership fee goes directly to the local bookstore of your choosing. I love that I can support local in this way! Every month, my fee goes towards one book credit. Credits roll over month to month and don’t expire, plus the audiobooks you do purchase are yours to keep and listen to in your own time.

Headspace - mindfulness has been a huge help in my struggle with anxiety, and taking a few minutes to take a deep breath in the morning has been a peaceful way to start off my day. This app has an annual fee but has an immense amount of resources (like SOS meditations and sleep sounds) and daily videos to keep you grounded.

YNAB -if budgeting is an intentional living goal for you, then give YNAB (You Need A Budget) a try! It’s a great way to keep an eye on your expenses and works as a digital “envelope system”. Designate your money into different categories, save up for big purchases and learn about your spending trends. Keeping this app on my phone helps me keep an eye on things as needed! Find out more on YNAB’s website.

I hope you try out some of these apps to help reduce your screen time or are inspired to do your own research to discover the apps that support your intentional living journey!