•There is a solution to this problem with the introduction of the Forest App.
•This application trains people to manage their time and become less dependent on their phones in a fun, purposeful way.
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Some people are so addicted to their devices that they find it hard to stay without checking or using them.
There is a solution to this problem with the introduction of the Forest App.
This application trains people to manage their time and become less dependent on their phones in a fun, purposeful way.
By spending time away from their phones, the users grow virtual trees and earn coins, which can be saved up and used to help plant real trees in five countries in Africa.
It also gently shames you if you do not successfully complete your goal. To plant real trees across the world, the app partners with Trees for the Future, a non-profit organisation that works to end hunger and poverty by planting trees that help feed families in need.
After downloading the app, all first-time users are welcomed with a simple set of instructions.
The app explains that it will encourage users to stay focused and be more present in their daily lives by planting virtual trees.
This app is full of elaborate features. It has the Plant Together feature that synchronises several forest accounts and raises stakes by challenging everyone to go phone-free simultaneously.
If one person in the group uses their phone, everyone’s trees will die, which makes it perfect for group dinners or movie nights.
It has the forest option where you can see all the virtual trees you have planted so far. You can use it to track your visual progress over days, weeks, months, or years. You can also use more specific filters to review your historical app data.
It has the tag feature that allows you to search more specifically by the labels you use to tag your plants such as work, study, or entertainment.
It is helpful if you are curious about which types of activities you spend more time on when you are not glued to your phone screen.
It also has an achievement feature that allows you to keep track of all your performance awards, such as when you reach four hours of focus time.
The real focus page is where you go to turn your coins into real-life trees should you ever reach that impressive milestone. This page reveals that many real trees have been planted as a result of the app.
There is an in-app store that allows users to unlock different species of virtual bushes and trees in hopes of making the virtual gardens more exciting.
To listen to an ambient sound while planting a tree, you simply press and hold the headphone icon in the upper right-hand corner of the app screen.
It also has the personalised message feature that lets you write your own encouraging phases that pop up throughout your phone-free journey.