What is the first thing that pops into your head when someone mentions health and fitness? I already know you’ll be thinking about eating healthy food, going for a long run, or lifting weights in the gym. Do you think it’s strange that everyone always seems to associate these 3 things with staying fit and healthy, yet they always miss an obvious one out?
Nobody ever talks about looking after their mind. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body, so people are doing themselves a disservice when they train one without the other. We’re going to change all that because you need to start working on your mind right now. Let’s look at some apps you have available that can help keep your mind in tiptop condition.
Calm
When you’re busy at work it’s sometimes hard to think because you have so much going on. The Calm app will use guided meditations to help you relax. You can pick how long you want each session to take and the shortest one is only 2 minutes long, which means nobody in the world can say they’re too busy to chill out. You even get to choose a beautiful background to look at as you’re going through the guided meditation.
Sleep Cycle
It’s sometimes easy to improve your mental health by getting a good night’s sleep. Most people are always struggling to get out of bed in the morning, so it’s no surprise we feel like crap during the day. The Sleep Cycle app will track your sleeping patterns and it will wake you up in the morning during a light sleep cycle which will mean you’ll feel much fresher when you open your eyes.
Equanimity
This app has been around for a while and there is no sign of it slipping away. Most of us don’t realize how powerful meditation actually is. It’s definitely not about sitting down, closing your eyes and deciding what to eat for dinner. You will be able to use Equanimity to time your sessions, plus when you’re finished you can journal your thoughts. It will also let you see when you’re starting to neglect your practice.
Gratitude Journal
When you’re stressed out it’s very difficult to see how your life is ever going to get better. This app lets you write down 5 things you’re grateful for every single day and you will automatically start to feel better. It might sound like voodoo, but showing your gratitude will let you know how great your life actually is. You can even upload photos, and you can rate how you’re feeling to see how much you’re improving each week.
Pocket Yoga
Yoga is one of those things that can help your body and your mind at the same time, but it’s one of the least stressful exercise options you have available to you. When you’re perfecting your poses you get a lot of time to think and your mind will end up relaxed and energized by the time you’ve finished. You don’t even need to attend a class because the Pocket Yoga app will teach you everything you need to know.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Image author owned
- License: Image author owned
- License: Image author owned
- License: Image author owned
- License: Image author owned
Nathan Skinner, the author of this post, works at Walk’N Comfort, a provider of birkenstock sandals in Toronto. He likes to keep up with the latest smartphone apps and suggests the good ones through his blog posts.
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