5 happiness apps to help with anxiety
The Partridge family sang, “Come on, get happy.” But this is easier said than done right now in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Isolation and fear can make us struggle with our mental health. On top of that, stay-at-home orders can make it difficult to get help in more traditional ways.
But thanks to technology, apps are available to bring help with anxiety and depression at your fingertips. With that in mind, I share some happiness apps meant to help calm your nerves and help you live a happy life, even during these difficult times.
Merry
A few years ago I tried the Happify app. It called my attention. For one thing, the name is catchy. Also, although I want to be happy, I am also stingy at heart, and the basic version is completely free.
The idea behind this app is that all it takes is a few minutes a day and you will be on your way to freedom from negative thoughts. You will learn to cope with stress and develop positive, life-changing habits with some fun exercises and games.
Depending on the app, you can strengthen basic happiness skills like: savoring the moment, thanking those who matter, aiming for meaningful goals, eliminating dead-end thoughts, empathizing with others, reducing stress and negative thoughts, and improving your relationships.
After you download the app and create an account, Happify will rate your happiness based on a questionnaire. The app then gives you a series of hints that you can use to start living a stress-free and healthy life.
Next, choose a “track” to start with. As my mom’s caregiver at the time, I thought I’d start one to reduce stress and anxiety. My first assignment: list three things I’m grateful for, and the trick that really helped me, explain why.
This app ranks high on many lists of the best happiness apps and I can see why.
Head space
This is another app that I have tried and I love it. Headspace provides tools and resources to help you stay mentally strong, reduce stress and anxiety, live healthier, breathe properly, sleep better, and live a happier life.
They offer a two-week free trial, after which you’ll be automatically enrolled in their $69.99/year plan. As of this writing, if you’re unemployed, you can get a free year of Headspace Plus to help you get back on your feet.
I discovered this app while enrolled in Weight Watchers (WW), which offers it free as part of their program. I suffer from insomnia and your sleep meditation exercise helped me calm my thoughts, slow my breathing and relax my body to make it easier for me to fall asleep. I also used your “Take a moment to pause” exercise to help me stop for a few minutes when I was feeling stressed and refocus.
Calm is a similar sleep, meditation, and relaxation app that helps you reduce stress through guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. Calm offers a 7-day trial, but after that, you’ll automatically be enrolled in their $69.99/year plan.
real life change
The Real Life Change app is meant to be a wearable life coach, designed to take your social interactions, moods, decisions, discoveries and emotions that you experience every day and provide you with meaningful and actionable feedback to help you live a better and longer life. . conscious life
The basic plan is free. This app is only available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Track your happiness
Track Your Happiness is a free application for use with your smartphone. You spend about 10 minutes answering questions, then you’re contacted by email or text (you choose how often you want the app to ask you) and asked to report what you’re doing and how you’re feeling.
A personalized happiness report tracks your mood so you can know what makes you happy, who makes you happy, and where you feel happiest.
super best
Super Better has made building happiness a game with short and simple activities that you complete as you progress through quests to develop happiness-boosting abilities like resilience.
His site claims that millions have played SuperBetter to achieve goals and deal with challenges including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and more. The Original Super Better is available for free.
Do you need more than an application? You may want to check out Talkspace, which allows users to connect virtually with a licensed therapist. For $49 per week, you’ll have private access to a therapist via text, audio or video chat, on a daily basis or multiple times a day.
I’ll let you make your own decisions. Find what works best for you and your life. There are many more apps available than the five I’ve listed. Who knows? A happiness app might come in handy and provide feedback to brighten your day during these stressful times.