7 Handy Apps to Help You Look After Your Wellbeing
Practicing self care on a regular basis is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, when days are hectic, it can be difficult to find the time to focus on your well being. That’s why we think wellbeing apps are a great way to include a little ‘me time’ in your day.
Whether enjoyed on a phone, tablet or watch, apps have the power to enhance your daily productivity and improve your mood and resilience. With some aimed at organising daily activities to ones designed to develop mindfulness, we’ve compiled this list to highlight a few of the apps we feel can make a positive difference in your life:
1. Headspace - Free (optional subscription at £9.99/month or £74.99/year); iOS and Android compatible
Headspace is one of the best-know meditation apps on the market. With more than 36 million members across 190 countries, this app is a great choice if you want to learn the essential elements of mindfulness and meditation. Featuring a free, 10-part basic course which allows you to work in three, five or 10-minute sessions, the app aims to help you relax and respond to how they are feeling throughout the day. Although the premium membership unlocks hundreds of additional meditation choices, we feel the free option is an excellent choice. Highly recommended and personally used by our Managing Director, Andy.
2. Noisli - Free; iOS and Android compatible
We all know that background noises can make it difficult to focus on the task at hand. Whether you are working from home or in an open office space, Noisli can be used to drown-out audible distractions. With the option to choose from a variety of natural sounds, this app aims to reduce stress and boost your overall productivity.
3. Calm - Free (optional subscription £35.99/year); iOS and Android compatible
Like Noisli, Calm provides you with gentle sounds of the outdoors. Developed to help you unwind throughout the day, this app also features Daily Calm sessions to help you refocus your attention. Unlike Noisli, Calm allows you to pick from exclusive relaxing music tracks and ‘Sleep Stories,’ which are calming tales narrated by well known people such as Stephen Fry and Matthew McConaughey. With plenty of free content and at £35.99 for a year-long premium subscription, this app is definitely one worth checking out.
4. Wunderlist - Free; iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Chrome compatible
Wunderlist allows you to create to-do lists with handy features such as the option to schedule due dates and reminder alerts. In addition, this app also has the ability to assign and categorise tasks, making this a great app for random tasks and big work projects alike. An easy-to-use, all-around task management app, Wunderlist is a noteworthy, free option.
5. Forest - £1.99; iOS compatible
Do you find yourself being easily distracted by the apps on your phone? Well, here is an app designed to lesson the time you spend on other apps! Although there are many distraction-blocking apps out there, many users report Forest as being the most fun to use. If you want to work for an amount of time without picking up your phone, simply set a timer on Forest and a tree will start to grow on your screen.
However, if you leave the app before the time is up, your tree will die. What makes this app even more attractive is the fact that each time you stick to your time goals, you’ll earn virtual coins which can be used towards planting trees in real life. A great way to help the environment and practice taking a break from your phone.
6. Done - Free; iOs compatible
This app was developed with the belief that our willpower is powered by habits. Done encourages you to form healthy habits by reminding, encouraging and keeping you accountable to your goals. Easy to use and visually appealing, Done allows you to set habit goals per day, week, month and even for the year. Providing you with a visual summary of their progress, the app can also be set to send reminders, further encouraging you to replace bad habits with positive ones.
7. Overcast - Free ($9.99 per year to upgrade to ad-free version); iOS compatible
If you would like to accomplish more during your downtime, podcasts are a great way to boost your productivity. Overcast features a clean and easy-to-use interface, which allows you to efficiently create playlists that suit their interests. A great app to use while in transit, waiting in a queue or doing household chores, Overcast has the potential to boost brain power while making good use of your time.
(Information correct at the time of writing)
Interested in learning more about the importance of self care? Check out what our Director of Research, Learning and Development, Katie, has to say about how to look after your mental health and wellbeing.