My biggest problem with useful apps has always been remembering to check them or open them when I need them. Widgets have allowed me to pin some of the most important apps on my phone directly on my home screen, ensuring that I never miss them when they’re relevant.
Google Keep
Write down your notes before you forget
About half of the time when I open my phone to write down a quick note, I get distracted before I actually manage to write it down. After becoming frustrated by my tendency to get sidetracked, I found a simple solution: Put the Keep widget on my home screen.
The major benefit of Google Keep’s home-screen widget is the ease of access. Instead of launching an app, waiting for it to load, and navigating through menus, I simply tap the widget on my home screen and start typing, recording, or adding a quick checklist.
The full Keep app might offer more features, but in practice, the Keep widget does exactly what I need to quickly capture an idea before I can get distracted by a notification or the idea disappears.
TickTick
Keep your day and week on track
Most task apps are built to help you stay organized, but they only work if you actually see them.
The first biggest problem is that once you close the app, your tasks vanish into oblivion—your priorities disappear from view, and you’re left wondering what’s next. In theory, you could rely on push-notification reminders or a dedicated “today” screen, but in practice, those alerts are often ignored or forgotten.
TickTick’s widget solves that by putting your to-do list directly on the home screen. It keeps your priorities front and center all day, eliminating the need to open an app just to check something off.
You can tick items, rearrange tasks, and keep a live view of your today list, all without launching the full app. That ease of access is exactly what you want from a to-do app.
I’ve found that keeping my to-do list front and center has helped me get more done without actually changing how I schedule my day.
Fit
A reminder to get my steps in
Most fitness apps are built to track steps, heart rate, and activity, but they’re easy to ignore when buried deep in your app drawer.
I needed to up my daily steps and heart points, so I pinned the widget directly to my home screen. Google Fit’s widget gives me a passive reminder whenever I glance at my phone. Whether it shows steps, heart points, or general movement, it stays visible throughout the day without requiring any extra effort.
Because I frequently see the number, I’ve become accustomed to adding a few extra steps into my day without consciously thinking about it. Over the course of a month, I now usually exceed the recommended steps and heart points.
Of course, steps and heart points aren’t just metrics you should track for fun. It is often said that “sitting is the new smoking” and is associated with significant health risks. Hitting your daily targets will help ensure that you live a longer, healthier life.
Digital Wellbeing
My phone was using up too much of my day
Most widgets are designed to help you use your phone more efficiently, but the Digital Wellbeing widget turns that premise on its head.
I frequently find myself opening my phone to read something specific, only to find myself doing something else instead. One of the biggest problems with smartphone usage is that I often lose track of how much time I spend staring at a screen—so much so that it becomes invisible until I glance at the time. In theory, I could rely on built-in timers, app limits, or third-party habit trackers, but in practice, I’d simply ignore those prompts.
The Digital Wellbeing widget solves this by putting your daily screen time right on the home screen. I don’t have to dig through settings, and I won’t absentmindedly dismiss a notification. Just like my steps from fit, the total amount of time I’ve spent looking at my phone in a given day is displayed for me whenever I unlock my phone.
It’s surprisingly effective, not because it blocks anything specific, but because it throws my bad habits in my face. I’ve found that simply being aware of what a wasteful time sink my phone is has enabled me to get away from it more than I expected.
I’d recommend using this widget if you’re looking for an unobtrusive, low-effort way to keep your phone time in sight and curb overuse.
An app doesn’t need to be flashy
None of these apps are particularly fancy, and the widgets don’t add functionality. They do improve visibility. That alone has been enough to turn an app I use occasionally into something I actively keep an eye on. In one case, it has even helped me drop a few extra pounds.
If you find yourself wishing that you’d make better use of an app you downloaded or paid for, try pinning the widget to your homescreen—it’ll probably help.
7/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua display
- RAM
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8GB
- Storage
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128 or 256GB
The Google Pixel 10a is a barely updated version of the Google Pixel 9a, with a slightly brighter screen and an upgrade from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. Google has shaved the remaining few millimeters from the camera bump, making it completely flat. Unlike prior versions of the Pixel a series, this model year does not share the same Tensor processor as the mainline Pixel 10.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
