It's easy to go through our day on autopilot.

We pick up our phones without thinking, spend more time consuming than we like, and put off things that actually matter.

Here are three apps that can help us break out of these habits and live more intentionally.

1. Life Dots (iPhone)

Life Dots is a simple app designed to remind you how quickly time passes.

It shows how much of your day, month, year, or expected lifespan has passed, either as a percentage or through a grid of dots.

You can add widgets to your Home Screen or Lock Screen to keep this perspective visible throughout the day.

The hope is that seeing time pass in this way encourages you to make the most of the time you have.

2. Dumb Phone (iPhone)

The Dumb Phone app gives iPhone users a way to create a simpler, less distracting phone without buying a separate device.

It transforms your Home Screen into a text-based launcher that displays only your essential apps.

Without colorful app icons and notification badges grabbing your attention, it becomes easier to open the apps you actually need rather than browsing out of habit.

3. Ratio (Mac)

Ratio is a simple menu bar app that helps you become more aware of how much time you spend creating versus consuming on your Mac.

You categorize your apps as either Creating or Consuming, and Ratio tracks how much screen time goes toward each.

You can check your ratio right from the menu bar, giving you a quick sense of whether you've been spending more time making things or consuming content.

It's a useful reminder to be more mindful of how you spend your time on your computer, especially if you want to create more and consume less.

Final thoughts

Instead of relying on willpower alone, these apps make it easier to use our phones and computers more intentionally, whether through simple reminders, fewer distractions, or being more aware of how we spend our time.