Self-Care Apps and Mental Health

Written by Soph Mazza

Self-Care Apps and Mental Health 

Self-care is such a powerful act of self-love. It is a commitment we make to put ourselves first. When we actively prioritize and dedicate time to care for our physical, mental, and emotional health, we improve our overall mental health, increase our self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence, and create a more positive outlook on life. For many of us (myself included), self-care tends to be placed on the backburner. We owe it to ourselves to take care of and show ourselves love. Self-care doesn’t need to be extravagant or expensive; there are many free phone apps that can help us nurture these habits.

Be Kind to Yourself

We treat our loved ones with so much kindness, respect, and forgiveness, yet often tend to be our own harshest critic. We deserve to treat ourselves with the same kindness and love, even when navigating challenging seasons in life. Learning to challenge our inner critic and negative self-talk can lead to greater self-esteem and resilience. 

Affirmations

Practicing self-care can include being intentionally kind and gentle to ourselves. It is important to remind ourselves in this busy world that we are all human and we are doing our best. Affirmations are a powerful way to challenge self-doubt and negative self-talk. Even on good days, affirmations are a wonderful way to boost self-confidence and feel good about ourselves. I am - Daily Affirmations is one of my favourite apps. It sends notifications of affirmations and has the option to add widgets to your lock screen and home screen with affirmations that change throughout the day. This app is available on the Google Play Store and the App Store. 

Mindfulness Practices

Incorporating mindfulness practices into our daily routines can be a powerful form of self-care. Engaging in activities that ground us and bring us into the present moment can be so beneficial in such a fast-paced and sometimes stressful world.

Mindful Breathing

Practicing mindful breathing can help reduce stress and anxiety by increasing our awareness of the present moment and promoting relaxation. This practice helps improve our emotional regulation, enhances our focus, and creates a sense of calm. The app Breathe: relax & focus is available on the Google Play Store and the App Store, offering a variety of guided breathing exercises. It is fully customizable to our needs and tracks our progress along our journeys of incorporating mindful breathing. 

Meditation

Incorporating meditation into our daily routines can increase our well-being. When beginning this form of self-care, start small - maybe set aside five minutes a day to actively engage in meditation. There are many free apps that provide guided meditations, as well as YouTube videos. Calm and Headspace are popular apps for meditation, though they require membership fees. Insight Timer is a free meditation app on the Google Play Store and the App Store that offers thousands of guided meditations. 

Journaling

Journaling helps us express and process our emotions, reduce stress, and clarify our thoughts. Increasing our self-awareness helps us identify, recognize, and understand our thoughts and feelings, and sometimes helps us let go of negative or stressful ones. While any notes app on our phone works wonderfully, The Halo: Daily Self Care Journal is a safe space right at our fingertips to declutter our minds. This app has helpful prompts such as, “What made you feel fulfilled today?” and “I am grateful for…” to help us explore our inner selves and nurture healthy habits. This app is available on the App Store.

Prioritzing Physical Activity

Prioritizing our physical health helps increase our overall mental health. It reduces stress and anxiety, increases our overall energy levels, and supports brain functioning and emotional regulation. Finding a form of physical exercise that we love is so important.

Yoga

Yoga is one of my favourite exercises because it combines physical movement with breathing exercises and meditation. This helps reduce stress and anxiety, promotes relaxation, and increases our mood. Yoga for Beginners - Mind & Body offers a wide range of yoga classes suited for all levels. Whether we want to focus on gaining strength, relieving stress, increasing flexibility, or enhancing our overall well-being, this app has a yoga class tailored to our needs. This is available on the Google Play Store and the App Store to help improve our relationships with our bodies. 

Spending Time in Nature 

Spending time in nature helps create a sense of inner peace and connection to the environment. This form of self-care helps lower our stress levels and increase our overall well-being. 

Nature Walk/Hike

I love to get outside with my dog, whether it’s a walk around my neighbourhood or heading out on a hike. It is one of my favourite ways to fill my cup. The app AllTrails is available on the Google Play Store and the App Store. It provides trail maps to help find new adventures, record the trail, and allows us to share your live location with friends. I love this app because it guides me along the route, even without service, and ensures my safety by sharing my location with loved ones. 

Self-care looks different for everyone; we all have different needs and interests. I hope one of these practices or apps resonates with you. By dedicating time and incorporating some of these practices into our daily lives, we show self-love and build a foundation for a healthier, happier life.