Eight apps to help you manage anxiety and stress

Wellbeing

Struggling with stress? Feel like there’s never enough time to unwind? Discover eight handy apps that can help you manage anxiety and stress.

Ever have one of those days, weeks (or lives!) when everything seems like an uphill battle? When work is demanding, the kids are being difficult and you just can’t get anything right?

As tempting as it is to sink into the sofa with a large glass of wine at the end of the day, you know you’ll pay for it in the morning. And besides, you’d much rather find a healthier way to cope with the demands of life. If only you had time to find out what that way is!

Eight apps to help you manage anxiety and stress

Luckily, like everything these days, there’s an app for that! In fact, we’ve found eight apps designed to take some of the edge of everyday stress, and enable you to be more calm and zen-like. Even if it’s just for a few minutes a day…

1) Calm

Need a meditation course, but don’t have time for it? Calm brings meditation to your home. Its basic plan gives you guided meditations for building focus, appreciating the present moment, becoming aware of the value of non-doing, and managing your thoughts.

You can download the app from the iOS and Android stores.

2) Headspace

Have you ever wondered where all that stress came from? The answer for most women is quite simple: you’re trying to achieve too much in too little time. So if “I don’t have time” has become your mantra, you need some headspace. And there’s a perfect app for that.

Headspace will take only 10 minutes of your time, but will give plenty in return. Sit quietly, close your eyes, and follow the instructions you get through guided daily meditations. The app is available for iOS and Android users.

3) HelloMind

Don’t you hate it when people tell you to calm down? When you have too much on your mind, staying calm can seem like a mission impossible. But it IS possible to relax; you just need a bit of help.

HelloMind gives you suggestions for a hypnotherapy session based on personal issues such as fear, low self-confidence, or negative thoughts. You can get the app from the iOS and Android stores.

4) Moodnotes

Writers often use the technique of retrospective writing to show how the events look from a character’s point of view. You can use this technique for managing stress. You’ll be the character, and you’ll be writing about everything you experience. Moodnotes is an app that will support the process.

You can use it to track your mood and write what you experience every day. It will help you boost your awareness of life and is available from the App Store.

5) Happify

Happify was designed around the principle that you can your brain can be trained at any age. This app teaches you the trick of being happy. You’re training your mind to think positive thoughts and stay strong against the triggers of anxiety and stress.

The game includes interesting activities and games, so it won’t look feel like had work. But you WILL be fighting stress on deeper levels. Happify is available for iOS and Android users.

6) How Are You

What do you answer when someone asks how you are? Great! That’s the most common answer. But, are you really feeling great?

How Are You helps you look deeper behind the layer that blocks your emotions, genuine thoughts, and fears. And when you know the causes of stress, you can tackle them – so you really can answer great in future! The app is available for Android users.

7) Lantern

Lantern was designed by researchers from elite universities. The app gives you personalised coaching sessions for self-development, with daily tips that help you become stronger and calmer.

You’ll have to join the Lantern program and take an evaluation test. Then you can start using the iOS app.

8) Pacifica

You feel like you need professional guidance to manage stress, but you’re still not ready for therapy? Pacifica may be the first step on that journey.

The app was designed by psychologists to help you calm down through meditation, breathing, and relaxation techniques. You can get it for iOS and Android devices.

Discover more ways to get more zen in your life

Love to read more tips about banishing anxiety and stress from your life? Check out these articles:

Joan Selby is life coach and a blogger for BestEssays; a graduate of California Institute of the Arts and a fancy-shoe lover; a writer by day and reader by night, giving a creative touch to everything. Find her on Twitter and Facebook.