This Pokemon-like Apple Watch app makes standing up throughout the day more fun

Screenshots of the Standland app for the Apple Watch
(Image credit: Apple Store / Standland app)
Standland

The Standland app logo

(Image credit: Apple App Store/Standland app)

iPhone / Apple Watch – Free (In-App Purchases)

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Standing up throughout the day is just one in a long list of things we know that we should be doing but often don't get round to or forget about completely as work and life stresses mount up.

One of the core settings in the Apple Watch Activity app prompts you to stand at least once every hour over a 12-hour period. But if that's not enough motivation for you, then I recommend the Apple Watch app Standland.

The thinking behind Standland is that getting us to stand up more – especially those of us in really sedentary jobs – is a challenge. But what about if we threw some cute animals into the mix and turned it into a game instead? 

How does Standland work?

The app prompts you to move for one minute every hour – that counts as one stand. There are 15 little virtual creatures to encourage you that unlock 15 different achievements. Think of it like a low-key Pokémon GO.

The app itself is incredibly simple, but you can also dig into your stats via weekly and monthly reports to see your progress over time.

I don't think the cute animal gimmick will appeal to everyone. But if standing more is your goal, you like fun games, and you're the kind of person who loved caring for your Tamagotchi as a kid, Standland might be perfect.

We know by now that the best habits – the ones you stick at – are small and easy to do. That's why I like Standland and its simple, fun approach to get you moving just a little bit more each day.

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Becca Caddy
Contributor

Becca Caddy is a contributor to iMore, as well as a freelance journalist and author. She’s been writing about consumer tech and popular science for more than a decade, covering all kinds of topics, including why robots have eyes and whether we’ll experience the overview effect one day. She’s particularly interested in VR/AR, wearables, digital health, space tech and chatting to experts and academics about the future. She’s contributed to TechRadar, T3, Wired, New Scientist, The Guardian, Inverse and many more. Her first book, Screen Time, came out in January 2021 with Bonnier Books. She loves science-fiction, brutalist architecture, and spending too much time floating through space in virtual reality. Last time she checked, she still holds a Guinness World Record alongside iMore Editor in Chief Gerald Lynch for playing the largest game of Tetris ever made, too.