We are in a time where there is almost an app for every single thing. Yoga, Counting, Taxation, You name it. There are definitely at least 10 apps for each. It might seem a little overwhelming when you see the search list in the App / Play Store. Most of the people in the world are carrying around an electronic device with them all the time. Why not take advantage of it to fix things that are difficult to fix otherwise.
But it’s definitely helpful when you find one that works for you. When it comes to Stress, it’s vital to take the disruptive lifestyle seriously and work on it towards betterment. This is not an article suggesting apps as a replacement for traditional stress management methods but as an extra tool for well being. You can also check my previous posts to see a list of Mental Health Apps.
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Here’s a list of apps that can definitely help you relieve some stress. I really hope that they help you.
1. BetterHelp
We have BetterHelp on top of our list and it is one of the trusted mental health and wellness websites. The platform can provide convenient counseling with licensed therapists online. BetterHelp can be a suitable platform for a broad age range. Start BetterHelp’s online therapy today.
Features of BetterHelp:
– Answer a few simple questions to get matched with a perfect counselor
– Join groupinars with expert therapists.
– Connect with therapists from the convenience of your home using PC or Mobile at home
Download Android | iOS
2. Headspace
Headspace is an amazing meditation app that lets you calm down and relieve your stress effectively. This is probably the most widely used app on this whole list. You can easily train and calm your mind by spending a couple of minutes every day meditating. with proper guides. This app mainly focuses on classic meditation and relaxation techniques to help you relax and manage your anxiety.
The app has other features that let you sleep better at night as well. Headspace not just focuses on stress but emphasizes on the entire well being of the individual.
Some of the courses included in Headspace are Transforming Anger, Handling Sadness, Dealing with Regret, Self-esteem, Grieving etc.,
3. Rootd
An overwhelming anxiety attack or panic attack can be overwhelming and could be alleviated by pressing a single big red button. This would present you with two paths of guide to relieving you out of what you are experiencing at the moment. The paths are comforted to help you feel better right away or to face the panic that you are feeling bold.
Some other features pf Rootd are
- Understanding Lessons: A deeper understanding of issues you are facing like anxiety and panic attack which will help you regard them intellectually.
- Breathr: Daily deep breathing exercises to alleviate stress.
4. Stop Panic & Anxiety Self-Help
Download: Android
5. Sleep Time
As the name clearly suggests, irregular sleep schedule is a major cause for stress in your life. Mathew Walker’s Why Do We Sleep is an amazing book that will help you understand the importance of a good night sleep. Give it a read if you can. Sleep Time effectively manages your daily sleep and gives you visualization data that helps you see how bad your sleep actually is.
Choosing a soothing alarm sound to make the waking up process not so awful is a great feature by Sleep Timer. Wake up at the right sleep phase & sleep cycle, and feel well rested. The app has a smart alarm algorithm which optimizes sleep quality, bedtime, slumber which in turn enhances your overall wellbeing. The app has sleep history graphs about sleep duration, REM and sleep cycle.
6. Calm
Calm is another widely used app next to Headspace in this list. The app has its own original Daily Calm. It’s a 10-minute program added daily to help ease you into the day or rest with before bed.
Calm has 100+ bedtime stories guaranteed to take you to sleep, 7 and 21-day programs for both beginners and advanced users, Breathing exercises, Open-ended meditation, Unguided timed meditation, and many more other features that will help you more than you think.
7. Stop, Breathe, and Think
Stop, Breathe & Think is the simplest app that does one thing really good. It will remind you to take short breaks in your day to actually check how you are feeling and take a few good breaths. Its available for android wear watches as well. Tap the watch face, start breathing to the pace of the circle, and instantly feel the calmness that descends upon you.
It is powered by Facer. If you aren’t aware, Facer Watch Faces is the watch face customization platform for WearOS & Tizen smartwatches. Facer will let you change your watch into everything you’ll need to bring your personal style to your smartwatch.
8. Nature Sounds
What better way to relax and get away from all the stress other than to listen to the sweet loving sound of nature. Nature Sounds does this job better than anyone else. Close your eyes and listen to some nature sounds to have the experience similar to being in nature right away.
All of the sounds in this app could be customized as per your liking. For example, increase the levels of more birds singing or sounds of the cracking fire if you like.
Some other features are:
- High quality natural sounds
- Customizable atmospheres
- Help against snoring
- Simple and beautiful design
- Timer – so the app turns off automatically
- Beautiful background images
- Install to SD Card
- Works offline (No internet connection needed)
9. Happify
This is an amazing app with a lot of resources that will help you be happy in life. Happy is a consequence of doing certain things. Using this app should be one of them. You can change your daily mood by going through the resources in this amazing app. The content of this app are personalized by experts who focus on behavioural therapy and personal well being.
Happify’s science-based activities and games can help you overcome negative thoughts, stress, and life’s challenges.
Happify’s techniques are told to be developed by scientists and experts in the evidence-based interventions in the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy for a very long time.
86% of people who use Happify on a daily basis have reported improved stress relief and well being in 2 months.
10. Wysa
Wysa has a lot of amazing features that will help you improve your daily effectively. You can Build confidence, reduce self-doubt and improve your self-esteem by doing techniques like core mindfulness, visualisation, confidence visualisation techniques, advanced mindfulness for self-esteem and many more.
93% of the people who talk to Wysa find it helpful in their daily lives. So, what is it that’s stopping you from having the life you want to live.
Wysa offers 20 minute mindfulness meditation exercises that leads you to relax, focus and sleep peacefully. You can also practice CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and DBT techniques to build resilience in a fun way. Wysa does a great job in CBT and DBT.
11. Colorfy
As you would have guessed by now, this app is just a coloring app. It’s definitely not the traditional stress management lifestyle, but coloring is a mind easing activity that even high-functioning individuals. You should develop your concentration, coloring skills, accuracy, and precision to paint the perfect art which in turn will help you relieve your stress.
This app will help you feel like a kid again from this busy lifestyle of adulthood. For a moment, it would be great to go back to those amazing childhood memories and bring your imagination to life digitally.
The Importance of Stress Management
Before heading down the list of apps that will help you, I would like to stress the importance to taking care of yourself these days to keep you off stress and have a stable mental health and well being.
Stress is defined as how the body reacts to any kind of demand, threat or change being experienced. The common public misconception is to label stress as a bad thing, but in reality, stress can actually be very healthy. When the body experiences a stress situation, your body automatically pushes itself to be healthy by the flight or fight response.