Apps to improve lives in the new year

With the new year, here are a few ways to improve your life as you enter 2013. Whether you want to shed holiday pounds, organize your work and personal lives or find more meaningful opportunities to give back, these apps will help.

(iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, free)

This app lets you multitask by fulfilling two worthy resolutions. Charity Miles is designed to help you support your favorite charity by raising money every time you go for a run, power walk or bike ride. The app uses GPS to track the distances you cover during workouts. Then, it pays out 10 cents a mile for bikers and 25 cents a mile for runners and walkers. Charity Miles is endowed with an initial $1 million in corporate sponsorships. Of course, users are encouraged to share their accomplishments with friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter. After each session is complete, you can brag about how far you went and also promote the charity you support.

(iPhone, iPod Touch, $1.99)

Planning your weekly to-do list just got easier. If your resolutions involve getting more stuff done, then this app is perfect. Sooner is great for people who like to visualize their time, as opposed to those who like sticky notes. Set up resolution projects and manage them in your life spheres on a daily basis. The sooner you get the app, the sooner you will be on the road to productivity.

(iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, $3.99)

So we made it through the Mayan apocalypse, but that doesn't mean the zombies aren't still coming for us. If you want to get in shape in 2013, and prepare for a real-life "The Walking Dead" scenario, then look no further than Zombies, Run! It's a mix of fitness regimen, video game and doomsday training.

(iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, free)

(iPhone, iPod Touch, free)

The Juice app is ready to help you on the road to well-being. Use Juice to track your daily activity so you can maximize your energy sources. It doesn't take a lot of time, just a few minutes a day to log and analyze what works best over time. The app gives healthy tips for managing stress and sleep patterns. This is a simple app that will help almost anyone stick to at least one resolution.