SmartFriend: How your Lumia can help make you a better person

Can a smartphone really help you to become a better person?

We can probably all agree that most of us would love to learn how to be a better person. And it’s a bold claim, of course, that your Lumia can put you on the path to becoming one. But when you think about it, it makes sense that something as vital as your smartphone can be a major help when it comes to self-improvement.

Becoming a better person (however you chose to define that term) often relies on the little things in life, small changes that affect your attitude, actions, and interactions with the people around you. And that’s where your smartphone comes in. Whether it’s discovering apps that can help you grow as a person or simply putting you in touch with the people that you care about most, your smartphone is a device that that plays a huge role in your daily activities and can help you make those small changes that give you a boost towards a more fulfilling, inspiring life. Read on to discover a few of our ideas on how your Lumia just might make you a better person — after all, it’s the little things in life that lead to happiness.

Letting your loved ones know how much you care is easier

Your smartphone is designed for communication, both making calls and sending text messages. But do you contact your friends and family as often as you’d like? If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to let too much time slip by in between catch-ups. Try setting a reminder for yourself to give those closest to you a call, or send off a quick hello text whenever someone happens to be on your mind. Messaging services such as Skype and WhatsApp are perfect choices for easy communication, and even just playing a game of Trivia Crack with your grandmother can help you keep in touch and bring you closer together.

You can become more reliable and punctual

Your smartphone is a powerful tool when it comes to organizing your life. It wasn’t that long ago that it was unthinkable to have access to such a useful calendar, note-taking app like OneNote, or helpful virtual assistant like Cortana. Make the most of this tech by using it to remember big events, as well as all of those little things that tend to slip your mind. Set reminders, alarms, try out a good to-do helper like Wunderlist — go crazy! Not only will it make you happier, but the people in your life will probably thank you for it.

You can make the world a better place with apps that give back

Apps that give back with charitable donations are a wonderful addition to the Windows Phone Store. Happily, more and more of these philanthropic apps are popping up in the store every month. This month, a new storybook app called GivingTales hit the store. The entertaining app features traditional tales such as “The Princess and the Pea”, narrated by the likes of Stephen Fry and Sir Roger Moore. The first tale is free, and the others cost $3.99, with 30% of proceeds going to UNICEF UK. For several more ways to give back and make the world a better place, check out how to go green with apps.

You can nurture both your mind and body

Feeling good mentally and physically is an important part of gaining self-confidence and becoming a happier person. You can feed your mind with brain-boosting apps and games that can help you improve memory and focus, and there are plenty of educational apps for you to discover, whether you want to explore space with NASA Image of the Day or read about our fascinating world with Discovery News. To keep your body feeling good, check out one of the many fitness apps that can either get you started on a healthy journey or help you maintain a certain level of fitness.

You can bring a little joy into someone’s life

Making someone smile has to be one of the best feelings in the world. Think about what makes your friends and family smile, and spread a little joy with the help of your Lumia. The opportunities are endless! You can snap and send a memorable group photo, create a silly piece of art using Fresh Paint, or come up with some other small gesture that might make them crack a smile.

You can express yourself creatively in so many ways

We often wonder if you, the community, know how much you inspire us with your fantastically creative art and photography. You’re a talented bunch, that’s for sure. Every Lumia Challenge and Instagramer competition is a new opportunity for us to see how you choose to express yourself, and it never fails to blow us away. And even better, expressing yourself creatively is one of the best ways to work on growing as a person. Challenging yourself, inspiring others, and finding an outlet for all that bottled up creativity can help you to grow into the person that you truly want to be.

What do you think? Has your Lumia helped you become a better person? Let us know in the comments below, and share your own ideas on how to best use a smartphone to work on self-improvement. In the meantime, get out there and spread a little happiness!