Daylio journal – mood tracker (free, but you can upgrade to the premium version for £1.69/mo, billed annually at £20.28)
Daylio journal is an app that tracks users’ moods, activities and habits. To begin, you simply have to choose a mood displayed on the screen through the use of emojis to best describe how you feel at that particular time. Followed by the activity that you are doing. This could be exercising, being at work, socialising with friends or being with family. If you feel this does not fully explain your thoughts or feelings you can include notes under the specified activity. The app also provides statistics which can show you patterns in your mood over time in reports.
Having the ability to track your mood can prove to be invaluable as over a consistent amount of time it allows you to learn and pinpoint what is affecting your mood. You can then take the appropriate action to avoid these activities.
NHS Couch to 5k (free)
This app designed for beginners to build up their stamina and fitness so that by the end of the 9-week programme you are able to run 5km in one go. The programme involves going for 3 runs every week consisting of multiple combinations of running and walking, the duration of which increases every week. For instance, in your first week you would start with a 5-minute walk followed by an alternating 1 minute of running and 1 and a half minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes, in week 2 both of the alternating running and walking would increase by 30 seconds.
However, you should remember that although completing the programme in the given time frame is an incredible achievement it is not necessary for everyone. This means that you can repeat any of the weeks until you feel like you are physically ready to move on to the next week.
Calm (7-day trial, then £28.99/year)
Calm is the leading app for sleep and meditation with over 100 million downloads worldwide. Their guided meditations range from 3 to 25 minutes with a whole host of topics including managing stress, relationships, self-esteem, sleep, calming anxiety and so much more. You can also fall asleep listening to over 100 stories narrated by A-list celebrities including Matthew McConaughey, LeBron James and Kate Winslet, just to name a few.
Wysa: anxiety therapy chatbot (free, premium version available for £49.99/year)
Wysa is an app that is aimed at helping those with a number of different mental health and wellness needs through an AI chatbot. This includes anxiety, depression, stress and sleep problems. This is achieved using principles drawn from CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which focuses on changing negative patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions to improve mood and feelings.
The app offers videos, exercises, articles and other targeted tools for the specific feeling or challenge you are dealing with that has been expressed in the conversation. However, some tools are for free but others require you to purchase a subscription.
BetterHelp – Therapy (upwards of £40 per week)
You will begin by filling out a questionnaire, once this is done, you will be paired with a therapist based on individual needs. In a private and secure space, you can message your therapist whenever you need someone to talk to. You will also be able to schedule a weekly session to chat over the phone or video call.
Therapy can be difficult for many people as it involves opening up to a complete stranger. This can be particularly difficult for someone with an anxiety disorder. By creating a more convenient and comfortable setting for people to get help. With online therapy providing a better alternative. This is because it can be easier to share your feelings and what you are experiencing over text messages. The cost of seeing a therapist in person can be quite pricey but this app offers a competitive price.
Headspace (free 14-day trial, £4.17/month, billed yearly at £49.99)
Help developing the tools you need for meditation and mindfulness are the core focus of this app. You can choose from a countless number of guided meditations to help you with several aspects of your mental wellbeing. Such as stress, improving sleeping patterns or anxiety management. If someone wants to get a better night’s sleep, for example, they would benefit from using the sleepcasts category of the app. This would help you drift off by listening to stories paired with relaxing sounds.
With the free trial you will have access to the first level of the basic courses. Which includes two fitness workouts, one sleep cast and several meditations. In the paid version you will get access to their full catalogue of tutorials, meditations and animated videos. For people who have not tried meditation before it can sound very daunting. But with its easy use and graphics it takes the seriousness out of meditation. The app at first glance may seem expensive, however it works out as the same cost as your Netflix subscription.
