With the first term over in a few days (if not already for some), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressures of student life. Here are five apps to lighten the load and help you stay on top of things. All of these apps are available from either the iTunes store or Google Play.
1. Calm (Android and iOS)
Sleep is essential for stress management, but it is also one of the first things to suffer when you are anxious. Calm, a popular mindfulness app, puts sleep, meditation, and relaxation in your hands. These guided meditations are suitable for both complete beginners and seasoned practitioners, and you can choose how much time you want to devote to the app each day. Calm also has a mood check-in feature that tracks your mood throughout the day and generates a personalised mood report.
Cost? The app’s free version provides a limited number of guided exercises and meditative audio to help relieve stress.
2. Colorfy (Android and iOS)
Colorfy is a digital version of an adult colouring book. This app allows you to spend hours in a flow state or focused meditation by providing a selection of images and mandalas to colour, as well as the option to upload your own sketches to colour.
Cost? While Colorfy provides the majority of their images for free colouring, you must purchase a subscription to gain access to the full library of images. It does, however, offer a 7-day free trial so you can try it out before purchasing a subscription.
3. Breathwrk (Android and iOS)
The Breathwrk app advances the science of breathing exercises by curating a collection of breathing exercises based on your goal: falling asleep, feeling relaxed, feeling energised, or relieving stress.
Cost? Most breathing exercises are completely free. However, for a small monthly fee, you can gain access to even more exercises and track your breathing habits all month long. Breathwrk also offers a 7-day trial before signing up for a subscription.
4. AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game (Android and iOS)
You know those fidget cubes with all the little tools and gadgets to keep you entertained? Consider the AntiStress app to be a whole app full of these little fun distractions. This app is a great tool for taking your mind off what’s making you anxious, with mindless games like bubble wrap popping, fidget spinners, pen clicking, soap carving, and many more.
Cost? This app is entirely free.
5. Moodnotes (Android and iOS)
Moodnotes allows you to record your entire anxiety experience in all of its forms. This app, based on CBT techniques and positive psychology, helps you understand and manage the entire anxiety experience. It offers a variety of anxiety-reduction techniques. You can visualise your mood by taking a picture of your face, writing down your thoughts when you start feeling anxious, or reading educational materials that help you break the cycle of “thinking traps.”
Cost? A subscription is required but it does offer a seven-day free trial.
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