These Self-Care Apps Will Help You Stay Productive No Matter Your Goal

To one person, candles, bath salts, and facials might be a waste of money; to another, it may sound like absolute bliss. Whereas taking a hike up a mountain may feel like therapy to someone, while someone else prefers, well, therapy. However, I think the one self-care trend we can all agree upon is a digital detox. After all, spending 24/7 on your phone takes away from your day and induces stress, anxiety, and just keeps you from being productive.

However, like any millennial, I do feel as though not all technology is bad. In fact, there is a lot of ways to use technology productively. It can make our lives easier by providing access to resources that can actually make us happier and healthier! It's 2020 now, and there are thousands of apps out there that contribute to your wellbeing. Instead of wasting your time scrolling through social media and snapping pics on Snapchat, put your phone to good use. When you're not digitally detoxing, download these self-care apps to help you keep on track and live better all-round, no matter your goal.

If you give any of the apps a try or have a favourite I haven't mentioned, let me know which apps are your best apps for self care and for helping you reach your self-care goals.

If You Want to… Work On Your Mental Health

Happify: Little games and activities are personalized to the mental health goals you selected, like conquering negative thinking or feeling less stressed. You can actually track and measure your overall happiness to help you reach whatever goal you selected!

Grateful: This app works like a gratitude journal in your pocket. The app will prompt you with questions to record what you're feeling thankful for each day. Over time, this rewires your brain to focus on the positive things around you and feel more optimistic about life.

Talkspace: If you're embarrassed, don't have time, or simply can't afford therapy, this is the app for you! A free consultation matches you with a therapist that is best suited you and once matched, you can set up sessions to attend virtually. You can even text them if you're in a crisis!

If You Want… Better Sleep

Calm: This app is one of my favourites. It has every tool you need to help you sleep like a baby. From music tracks designed for relaxation, a "sleep story," aka the grown-up bedtime story, or guided meditation, you'll be asleep in no time.

Sleep Cycle: If you're someone who has a hard time waking up in the morning, this app is for you. It tracks and analyzes your sleep cycles, so when you set alarms, it knows during which part of your REM cycle to wake you. This will have you waking up feeling refreshed and not groggy so you can get started on your day right away. Plus, the app tracks the number of hours you slept as well as the quality, so you can work on getting those much needed eight hours.

If You Want… Help with Focus

Screentime: Yup, you’re reading right - even your phone can help you spend less time on your phone! This built-in app can be found in your settings and provides insights into your smartphone usage. Set limits on apps or categories of apps to block you from being able to break the time limit that you set.

Offtime: Offtime is very similar to the built-in Screentime app, with a few extra benefits. Like screentime, the app provides insights into your smartphone usage and blocks you from being able to break your goals. Still, there are some extra communication filters that might be helpful.

If You Want… a Pep Talk

Shine: Shine is an app that's built with a focus on women. It sends motivational messages in the form of a notification based on the personalized self-care goals that you set. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just need the reminder that you got this, Shine will be there for you.

Sunrise Inspiration: What can be more motivational than a daily quote and a calming nature picture sent straight to your phone. The app also includes inspirational videos and e-cards to send to friends who might need a pick me up, as well as huge selections of quotes so you can find the perfect one for the moment.

If You Want to… Get Healthy

Health: Health is the app Apple made to help you keep track of your health - everything from nutrition, to water intake, to step count, it can be tracked. Use it as the one-stop-shop for monitoring your fitness and nutrition goals, as well as keeping a record of important health information.

Charity Miles: This app allows you to log all types of activity, whether it's running or biking, so you can meet your fitness goals. But, the real motivation is that for every mile you move, you help earn money for a charity of your choice.

Fooducate: This isn’t just your regular calorie-counting app. Nope, it lets you scan your favourite foods to see how healthy they actually are. It even gives you healthy food recommendations based on what you've previously examined and recorded.

If You Want… Help Keeping Your Resolutions

Fabulous: Fabulous helps you build healthy habits through a surprisingly easy approach that will help you stick to your goals. The app will help you identify the areas in your life where you’re stuck or falling short and uses reminders and activity tracking to create habits out of the steps best suited for achieving your goals.

Strides: This app will track any habit or goal and send you consistent reminders to help you stick with them. Make daily checklists, make milestones to help you finish big projects on time, and track them all in one place!