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I wish I could say that Im the type of person who has tried-and-true routines to carry me through all the things that need to be done in a day, but the reality is far from that. As someone with overlapping chronic illnesses trying to juggle a full-time job and a life outside of that, just getting out of bed often feels like a major feat. Im caught in the tug of war between perpetual exhaustion and lack of motivation, and whether Im able to cross anything off my to-do list is generally a gamble. A few months ago, though, a friend recommended that I try the Finch app to help me establish some gentle structure and get a little more of what I want out of each day. Id already been seeing ads for this self-care pet all over Instagram, and this was the tiny push I needed to actually give it a go. Now here we are, some four months later, and Im still using it consistently as if it were my own adorable life coach. Finch is a habit tracker, motivation app and virtual pet all in one. It gives you a little bird (okay, birb) to raise from an egg and look after as it grows up and learns about the world. But its not the kind of pet you need to worry about keeping alive, unlike my many needy Tamagotchis. Taking care of your bird consists of dressing it up in cute outfits, petting it, changing up the decor in its home and sending it on little adventures. In turn, your bird will check in on you throughout the day, offering words of encouragement and reminders to complete your goals, and celebrating your wins when you get stuff done. I use the free version of the app, which Ive found to be more than enough for my needs, but theres also a subscription-based version that unlocks more items, a full library of guided exercises and more. If you were to look at my goals list, it might at first seem extremely daunting; there are more than 20 tasks on there on any given day. But these vary in importance, and range from the bare minimum things I need to do to start my day like getting out of bed, brushing my teeth and taking my morning meds to those that require more commitment, like exercising or doing laundry. Finch doesnt take the guilt approach to goal-tracking, so you wont be scolded or shamed if you dont finish everything on your list. There arent really any consequences. Its more about highlighting what you did accomplish rather than focusing on what you didnt, and forming healthy habits in the process. Youre awarded rainbow stones for completing each of your goals, and those can be used as currency in the various shops to buy clothes, furniture and new colors for your bird. Over time, you can collect and raise cute micropets as companions for your bird too (kind of like the Petpets in Neopets). Sometimes its more helpful to look at the bigger picture, and you can group tasks together as Journeys to get a better sense of your overall progress in certain areas. Journeys are color-coded and come with tiered rewards, which youll earn as you level up by hitting certain milestones with the related goals. I might not manage to check off my Exercise for 30+ minutes goal every day in a week, but the three days I did exercise will count toward my Get moving, get healthy Journey. There, Ill also be able to see how many times Ive completed the relevant goals since I started tracking them. Just opening the app every day comes with some rewards as well. I like keeping up a streak, and I just recently got my longest one yet: 32 days! While I was a little bummed out when I finally messed it up by forgetting to check in on a really busy day, I still found myself more impressed at how many days in a row Id committed to showing up for myself. It only made me want to do better. Youll also be gifted themed items and rainbow stones as part of seasonal events and for tackling daily quests, like writing a reflection or sending good vibes to a friend. The latter in particular is a big part of what makes Finch so special. Theres a strong were in this together kind of energy to the whole thing, and thats backed up by features that allow you to actively support and receive support from other Finch users. You can add friends on the app using a code, and your birds can visit each others homes, bringing with them a little message or gift for the other user. My friend and I go back and forth randomly sending each other hugs, encouragement and other little tidbits of positivity from the list of options. Some users even exchange their codes with others online to make their support circles larger. And, you can gift the paid version of the app, Finch Plus, to users who may not be able to afford it, if you want to go a step further in doing a kindness for a stranger. The app provides constant reminders that someone is rooting for you, whether its a little bird acting as your personal cheerleader or another real Finch user. There are a bunch of built-in tools to help promote self-care, like guided breathing exercises, movement routines and prompts for written reflections. The app will ask you about your mood multiple times a day, and when you indicate that things arent going so great, itll present you with a little First Aid Kit offering some optional activities to help you work through your feelings or manage your anxiety in the moment (this is accessible in the menu at all times, too). It also links out to a website with helplines for confidential emotional support. Ive tried a few self-care and productivity apps over the years, but Finch is the first one Ive actually stuck with for an extended period of time. I like how it can be tailored to your specific needs, with both pre-set and custom goals, and the low-stakes virtual pet element makes it a joy to use. I love my little birb, Ripper Jr., and all the little micropets weve been accumulating together (even the blobs, for all you haters). Maybe I wont ever be a person who wakes up with the sunrise and accomplishes five things before 10AM, but me and lil Ripper Jr. are still getting stuff done.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/this-self-care-virtual-pet-is-helping-me-get-my-act-together-160027169.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
Comcast boosts its Xfinity internet speeds at no extra cost for many users each year, and the company is now rolling out the 2025 upgrades. Many subscribers will have double the upload speeds they previously had, and others will see a 50 percent jump. While it's nice to see Comcast upgrading the upload speeds, fiber internet typically allows for matching downloads and uploads. Google Fiber and Verizon Fios, for instance, offer symmetrical (or near-symmetrical) speeds. Comcast's download speeds are also going up on most tiers. The top Gigabit x2 plan got a 100Mbps download speed boost to 2.1Gbps, but the download speed remains the same at 300Mbps. The company says more than 20 million customers are getting a free upgrade as part of this rollout. It's aiming to offer 2Gbps service to more than 50 million homes and businesses by the end of this year. Alongside the speed upgrades, new and existing Xfinity internet customers can snag a freebie. Those who subscribe to a plan with 400 Mbps or faster speeds can get a line of unlimited Xfinity Mobile at no extra cost for one year. Here's a breakdown of the speed boosts: Xfinity tier Previous download/upload speed (Mbps) New download/upload speed (Mbps) NOW 100/10 100/20 NOW 200/10 200/20 Connect 150/100 150/150 Connect More 300/100 400/150 Fast 500/100 600/150 Superfast 800/100 800/150 Gigabit 1,000/150 1,100/300 Gigabit x2 2,000/300 2,100/300 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/comcast-rolls-out-its-free-annual-xfinity-internet-speed-boosts-160007781.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida is stepping down on April 1, the company just announced. He will be replaced by acting Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Ivan Espinosa. Uchida has been CEO since 2019 and Espinosas promotion will make him the companys fourth CEO in eight years. Other senior management personnel are also stepping down on April 1, including Chief Brand and Customer Officer Asako Hoshino and Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer Hideaki Watanabe. This leadership shakeup is happening less than one month after merger talks between Nissan and Honda failed. That deal would have been worth at least $50 billion and would have created the worlds third-largest automobile company by sales volume. Reporting has indicated that the talks fell apart after Honda demanded that Nissan become its subsidiary. Sources at Reuters also noted that Nissan refused to close factories and initiate deep staff cuts. Nissans problems go far beyond failed merger talks. Theres a reason, after all, why Honda wanted to be top dog and not the other way around. Nissan saw a 78 percent year-on-year reduction in operating profits for the third quarter ending in December. It also reported a net loss of over $95 million for the same time period. It cut forecasts for both revenue and operating profit and its stock valuation has been all over the place. Outgoing CEO Uchida told reporters that he was unable to gain the confidence of many Nissan employees since announcing a turnaround plan last year and that the best course of action was to pass on the baton to my successor quickly. CPO Espinosa has been with the company since 2003. I grew up in Nissan and Ive spent many years working in divisions across the globe, Espinosa said. I sincerely believe Nissan has so much more potential than what we are seeing today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/nissan-announces-its-ceo-will-step-down-just-one-month-after-failed-merger-talks-with-honda-154420111.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
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