🎯 What Are Location-based Goals?
BetterYou can help you keep track of habits you want to develop or maintain that involve going somewhere specific each week. Our Location goals include:
Place of Fitness (gym, yoga studio, running trail)
Place of Reading (library, coffee shop, study area)
Place of Learning (university, training center, workshop space)
Place of Socializing (friend's house, community center, social club)
Place of Mindfulness (meditation center, park, quiet space)
Place of Spirituality (places of worship, reflection areas)
Custom Location Goals (any place that matters to you)
⏱️ How Location Tracking Works
Visit Requirements:
To get credit for a visit on your goal, you must be at the location you set for:
Minimum: Greater than 15 minutes
Maximum: No more than 5 hours
How It Works:
Set Your Location: Add specific places to your goal (up to multiple locations)
Automatic Detection: BetterYou uses your phone's GPS to detect when you arrive and leave
Background Monitoring: The app works in the background to track your visits
Smart Geofencing: Uses a 100-meter radius around your specified location for accurate detection
📍 Setting Up Location Goals
Step 1: Choose Your Goal Type
Select a template goal or create a custom location-based goal
Choose "Location-based" as your logging method
Step 2: Add Your Locations
Search for Places: Use Google Places integration to find exact locations
Set Visit Targets: Choose how many times per week you want to visit
Multiple Locations: Add several places for the same goal (e.g., multiple gym locations)
Step 3: Configure Settings
Weekly Target: Set your visit goal for the week
Location Radius: 100-meter detection zone (automatically configured)
Background Tracking: Enable for automatic visit detection
🔐 Required Permissions
iOS Users:
Location Permission: Must be set to "Always" for optimal tracking
Alternative: If set to "While Using the App", you'll need to open the app every time you visit
Background App Refresh: Should be enabled for continuous monitoring
Android Users:
Location Permission: Must be set to "Allow all the time" for optimal tracking
Alternative: If set to "Allow only while using the App", you'll need to open the app every time you visit
Battery Optimization: Should be disabled for BetterYou to ensure background operation
Why "Always" Permission?
Location-based goals require continuous background monitoring to accurately detect your arrivals and departures. Without "Always" permission, the app can only track you when it's actively open, which may cause you to miss visits.
🚀 Advanced Features
One-Time Visits:
Log Unplanned Visits: If you visit a location not in your goal, you can log it as a one-time visit
Temporary Tracking: These visits are tracked for that specific instance only
Manual Entry: Perfect for unexpected visits to relevant locations
Multiple Location Support:
Goal Flexibility: Add several locations for the same goal type
Travel Support: Set up locations in different cities or areas
Dynamic Updates: Add or remove locations as your needs change
Smart Notifications:
Visit Confirmations: Get notified when visits are successfully logged
Goal Reminders: Receive prompts to visit your locations
Progress Updates: Track your weekly progress toward location goals
🔧 Troubleshooting Location Goals
Common Issues and Solutions:
Not Getting Credit for Visits:
Check GPS Accuracy: Open any navigation app to verify your device's location accuracy
Verify Permissions: Ensure location is set to "Always" (iOS) or "Allow all the time" (Android)
Check Background Settings: Ensure BetterYou can run in the background
Wait for Processing: Location data may take a few minutes to process
Home/Work Location Issues:
Extended Stays: If you're at home/work for more than 5 hours, you won't get credit (this prevents false positives)
GPS Interference: Poor GPS reception in buildings may affect tracking
Solution: Use Manual Logging for these locations or set up separate, more specific location boundaries
Permission Problems:
Go to Settings: Account → Settings → System Permissions
Check Location Status: Verify location permissions are properly granted
Reset Permissions: If issues persist, try revoking and re-granting permissions
GPS and Reception Issues:
Indoor Locations: GPS signals may be weak inside buildings
Urban Areas: Tall buildings can interfere with GPS accuracy
Rural Areas: Limited GPS coverage may affect tracking
Solution: Use manual logging when automatic detection fails
📱 Manual Logging Alternative
When to Use Manual Logging:
GPS Issues: When automatic detection isn't working due to poor reception
Extended Stays: For locations where you spend more than 5 hours
Permission Limitations: When you can't grant "Always" location access
Quick Visits: For very brief visits that don't meet the 15-minute minimum
How to Log Manually:
Open Your Goal: Tap on the location goal in your Goals tab
Add Progress: Use the "Add Progress" button
Select Location: Choose from your saved locations or add a new one
Log Visit: Record your visit with the appropriate details
Best Practices for Location Goals
Setting Up Locations:
Be Specific: Use exact addresses rather than general areas
Multiple Spots: Add several locations for the same goal type
Regular Updates: Review and update your locations as needed
Optimizing Tracking:
Grant Full Permissions: Always use "Always" location access for best results
Keep App Updated: Ensure you have the latest version of BetterYou
Check Background Settings: Allow BetterYou to run in the background
Monitor Battery: Ensure your device has sufficient battery for background tracking
Goal Management:
Realistic Targets: Set achievable weekly visit goals
Track Progress: Regularly check your progress in the Goals tab
Adjust as Needed: Modify your goals based on your actual patterns
🔒 Privacy and Data Protection
BetterYou is committed to protecting your location data:
Local Processing: Location data is processed locally on your device when possible
Secure Transmission: Data is encrypted when sent to our servers
User Control: You can revoke location permissions at any time
Data Retention: Location data is only stored as long as necessary for goal tracking
Location-based goals help you build consistent habits by automatically tracking when you visit important places. With proper permissions and setup, you'll get accurate credit for your visits and stay motivated to reach your wellness goals!