6 apps to make you happier

Top apps for a new you

Last year was one of the most stressful in recent memory, and so far this year hasn’t been much better, so it’s understandable if you’re looking for ways to increase your happiness. Thankfully, there are lots of apps on hand to help you take back control and feel more positive. There are apps that help you improve your sleep and wake up with peace of mind, there are apps that declutter your brain and enable you to overcome troubling thoughts, and there are apps that let you take stock of all the positive things in your life that you can overlook. Combined, they can help you lead a happier life in 2021 and beyond.

HEADSPACE

Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch

An App Store Editor’s Choice, Headspace is something of an all–in–one app to help you relieve stress, sleep better, improve your focus, and generally lead a happier life. It offers sessions of varying lengths, including stress–busting meditation, concentration–boosting music, at–home exercises and workouts, and so much more. It’s a great place to start if you’re looking to improve your happiness.

TEN PERCENT HAPPIER MEDITATION

Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPod touch, Apple Watch

If you’ve been put off by meditation apps and struggle to find one that helps you relax without the extra baggage, try Ten Percent Happier. Billing itself as an app for “fidgety skeptics,” this app is perfect for newcomers who don’t know where to start. With straight talking and plenty of humor, it’ll help you build healthier habits and defeat stress with simple techniques.

HAPPIFY Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPod touch

Improving your happiness is not an overnight process, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a chore. As Happify shows, it can be fun. The app is packed with games and activities, all backed by science and designed to help you conquer negative thoughts, cut out stress, and relax more. You can track your progress over time, too, so you know you’re on track to reach your goals and boost your mood.

GRATEFUL Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Sometimes it can be easy to take the good stuff for granted. When you stop to reflect on them, you realize things are not as bad as you might think, which in turn can make you happier. That’s what Grateful is all about. It encourages you to keep a journal of all the things you are thankful for, then look back on them to take stock and gain a new, more positive perspective on your life.

SLEEPTOWN $1.99 Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential, yet so many of us go without, whether that’s due to stress, iPhone addiction, or something else. SleepTown encourages better rest using the same techniques as its sister app Forest — put your phone down for the night and a beautiful town springs up in the app overnight. Pick up your device and the buildings fall down. It’s simple but so effective.

RELAX MELODIES

Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, Apple Watch

If you need a little help falling asleep and getting the rest that’s so important to happiness, try Relax Melodies. Packed with over 400 meditations, sounds, and bedtime readings, it’s geared towards helping you drift off at night, no matter how you prefer to unwind. That variety is perhaps its greatest strength — instead of forcing you down one path, you can pick the method that works best for you.