You know why self-help books are so popular? Because human beings are never really satisfied. I can’t name a single friend in my social circle who isn’t trying to change something about their appearance, or learn a new skill, or kick a bad habit. This also explains why the App Store is littered with habit-forming and goal-tracking apps. One such app that caught my eye recently is Lift, a stunning-looking app that I hoped would be as functional as it was attractive.

What is it and what does it do

Main Functionality

Described in one user review in the App Store description as “a sticker chart for the iPhone age,” Lift is a goal-setting app grounded in positive reinforcement. This app helps you to set goals, turn them into habits, and view your progress in an attractive and simple interface.

Pros

• Setting up a new account is quick and painless
• App has a stellar design: it’s so beautiful, you want to use it more and more
• Easy to see both streaks and total number of times you’ve completed a task
• Connect to Facebook or Twitter
• Join existing groups of like-minded habit builders, or create custom habits that are tailored to your needs
• Add notes to your habits
• Send reminders at a custom time via Push notifications or email

Cons

• Habits are linked to groups in the community: this may not be to the taste of some users, who want to don’t want to share their goals with other participants
• Font size doesn’t automatically re-adjust to make longer goals fit onto one line, which is annoying if you’re trying to review all your goals at a glance

Discussion

While the core functionality of Lift is solid, the real triumph here is the design. This interface is practically perfect. It’s simple, attractive, and thoughtfully designed.

One thing that is kind of nice is being able to use the search bar and see how many other users are pursuing the same tasks as you. You can also see what habits are popular or trending now, which is a good way to get started if you’re having trouble thinking of habits you want to build or break.

The community aspect of this app is a double-edged sword, and your enjoyment of that aspect will depend a lot on your own personality. When you add a habit to your collection, you share that same habit with anyone who has the same goal.

On the plus side, you get encouragement from total strangers when you’ve built up a good streak. On the other hand, some people are more introverted and want to keep their self-improvement goals private. Not everyone wants to own up about forgetting to floss.

Conclusion and download link

If you’re looking for an attractive way track your progress towards big goals and new life habits, Lift definitely fits the bill. On interface alone, this goal-tracking app is well worth investing in. It’s easy to get a full view of your progress, and the community can buoy you in times of low spirits. If you haven’t tried this app yet, you really should.

Price: Free

Version reviewed: 1.6.7

Supported OS: Requires iOS 6.0 or later

Download size: 5.7 MB

Lift on Apple App Store