Self-Care Apps

Get in a better headspace with this collection of apps.

ou know an idea has hit the mainstream when you see it printed on everything from shirts and pillows to wine glasses. Self-care is the latest such trend, and why shouldn't it be? Mental health is something we desperately need to celebrate, research, and honor. Although benefits of self-care include improved mood, reduced anxiety, and better overall health, it's preached by many but followed through on by few. Honestly, when my day gets hectic, it's usually one of thMeC fi rARst rTOifiAC cTeOAN.

True self-care doesn't always look like the popular “treat yo' self” mentality we see plastered all over the internet, exemplified by cliché things like shopping sprees, decadent desserts, or a hot bath. Now, I'm not saying those options don't give me a boost from time to time, because they definitely do. But I've come to realize that self-care is about making the conscious choice to build a life you don't need to regularly escape. It's about making choices for yourself that no one else can, not about occasional indulgences. Here are some of the best apps I've found that promote true self-care.

Talkspace Online Therapy

(Starting at $65/week)

If you've been on the fence about seeing a therapist, Talkspace is a fantastic option. The thought of therapy can be intimidating or overwhelming, and there's something truly comforting and convenient about being able to talk through your iPhone. Compared to in-person therapy that typically runs around $150 a session, Talkspace is an affordable alternative. Just take a questionnaire, and they'll match you with a licensed therapist within the same day. Along with scheduled counseling sessions, you can also send your therapist unlimited texts or video messages. They also offer different plans, such as scheduled live video sessions, teen therapy, and couples' therapy. Talkspace offers a great way to invest in yourself.

Moment - Screen Time Control

(Free, $3.99/month for Premium)

A challenging part of stress management is setting and maintaining boundaries in your life. One habit that used to have a negative effect on me was excessive use of my phone. I've wasted far too much time idly scrolling away, lost comparing myself to others. I could've put that wasted time toward my self-care goals. If this is sounding like you, then you might want to consider checking out Moment. Moment helps you manage device usage and set phone-free times for everyone in your family. It also offers different coaching features to help you redirect your focus and balance your life. If you need some added motivation to truly force you off your phone, try using Moment and make your screen time visible to everyone in your family.

Sanity & Self: Self-Care Guide

(Free, $99.99/year)

This app is really fun! It offers over 800 guided audio sessions covering a wide range of topics such as anxiety, relationships, empowerment, self-love, orgasms, living with trauma, fitness, and breakups, to name a few. With such a plethora of categories available, there are tools for basically every journey of life. Sanity & Self also offers the option to set reminders for yourself with your various self-care goals and in-app journaling. One of my favorite features is the community of people that uses the app. It's a safe place to build confidence, share your struggles, ask questions, or just to feel like you belong.

Happy Not Perfect: Meditation

(Free, $11.99/month for Premium)

At times, I catch myself living in a near-constant state of overwhelm. I have to regularly remind myself to lower my shoulders from my ears and unclench my jaw. Little suggestions like that help me keep my head clear and battle the unconscious ways I'm holding onto stress. When I use the app Happy Not Perfect, I have a great toolkit of suggestions and reminders for my mind. The app offers much more than your typical guided meditations, including interactive “mind workouts” that are tailored to your mood. You also learn calming techniques like how to improve your breathing.

And it helps you set an optimistic mindset for your day. You can obviously use the app anytime or anywhere, but I really enjoy taking a few minutes every morning before things get hectic to practice some quiet mindfulness. It sincerely seems to help me combat the numerous stressors I encounter every day. This practice doesn't solve any of my issues or make them disappear; instead, I feel better equipped with the mental tools to be able to handle them appropriately. After all, happiness is not the absence of opposition; it is the transcendence of it.

Reach – Internet Best Friends

(Free)

Having friends can be a huge boost to your mental health but making new friends as an adult can be awkward and challenging. Reach is a great app for finding friends. You start by choosing from various interests, experiences, and cultures, and Reach will match you with potential friends who share common interests with the hopes of helping you make an IBF (internet best friend). A bonus to using Reach is that there aren't any in-app purchases, it's always free, so there's zero commitment to download, try it out, and see if it's for you. Besides using the app to make friends where you live, you can also use it as a fantastic tool for making connections while traveling. With Reach, you now have the opportunity to make a friend from any city around the world. Making friends online may seem unconventional, but think about how many people are in relationships today that started from online dating. This could very well be the future of friendships for our society!

Habit Hub: Routine & Habits

(Free, in-app purchases)

Sometimes I'm spread so thin with all of life's responsibilities that it's actually quite useful to be reminded of things that would otherwise seem obvious. After all, a huge part of self-care is just making time for yourself to get back to the basics. With Habit Hub, you can set flexible reminders and goals for yourself daily, weekly, and monthly. The app's dashboard is color-coded, so it's easy to manage and view your progress. The main goal is to help you create healthy habits that last a lifetime.

I enjoyed using this app for the most fundamental of daily reminders that I normally forget, such as taking your multivitamins, flossing, meditating, and drinking eight glasses of water. The more creative you are with the reminders, the more you'll reap the rewards—schedule a monthly weigh-in, try a new class, or get outside and explore an unfamiliar part of your neighborhood. It's a quick and simple way to set goals and reminders that, as you turn into habits, will profit you and your mental health greatly long-term.

YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE

Whether you turn to your iPhone to assist you in your selfcare journey or not, I hope that you are finding ways to lean into being yourself, loving who you are, and truly discovering what feeds your soul. Once you find that out, take it and run with it, because the secret to all of this is that self-care isn't just about you. When we make the time to take care of ourselves, we become better partners, friends, employees, and parents. It's like ripples in a pond. Our personal happiness and health should be just as important to our relationships as all the other services we provide for them. So, whatever you need to do to boost your self-care and love, you have my permission to do it! I guarantee that you will reap the rewards with added happiness in your life and throughout all of your relationships.

"WHEN WE MAKE THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, WE BECOME BETTER PARTNERS, FRIENDS, EMPLOYEES, AND PARENTS,"