The start of 2017 means New Year's resolutions. It can be stressful to make life changes, even when you promise to work on your stress levels. Thankfully, our new technological world offers apps that make finding time to relax a little less daunting. Basically, you have no excuses when it comes to taking care of yourself this year.
Inevitably, you will have at least one bad day in 2017. Here's an app that will give you instantaneous physical relief when you're dealing with drama—and the premise is tested by time. Acupressure is an ancient healing art that relies on your finger to hit ultra sensitive spots (AKA pressure points) on your body. This particular contact stimulates your body's natural ability to cure itself; releasing nerve endings, easing body tension, and increasing blood circulation.
The app features a maps of over 90 pressure points with tabs for simply maintaining health, pain relief, and a variety of disorders. All the diagrams have how-to illustrations to make you an expert easy.
If you know stress, then you know sleepless nights. Relax Melodies gives you the tools to calm down before you hit the sheets. The app lets you choose from about 50 soothing natural sounds—like crickets chirping and white noise. Along with setting the atmosphere, the app has guided customized meditations. You can set a timer for the melodies to stop or set it to play when you wake up. The sounds of ocean waves definitely beat your current piercing alarm.
Meditation is nothing new—people have been doing it for thousands and thousands of years. Headspace combines technology and traditional practice to reinvent our understanding of the mindfulness activity. The team behind the app has simplified the idea to teach anyone and everyone how to "live a happier, healthier, more enjoyable life."
Once you sign up, you can pick 10-minute downloadable sessions catered to a variety of moods and lifestyles. If you need help with focus? There's a session for that. Relationships? There's a session for that. But sometimes it's hard to stay on track with your goals, so Headspace has created a way to map the mindfulness journey, track progress with friends, and get rewards.
4. Talkspace
There is a negative stigma surrounding talk therapy. Some believe therapy is only for the "crazy." Others say it's too damn expensive. There are a lot of supposed arguments to avoid it, but none are enough to argue the benefits of psychotherapy. Therapy can help you problem solve, better understand yourself, give you a safe place to talk, and so much more.
The app presents therapy options that are affordable, confidential, and anonymous. Once you log in, you are matched with the right person, given a price point based on your salary, and then you're free to videochat or text with your therapist. Also, tons of therapists are are standby to chat with you 24/7.
