While the holidays are most often associated with feelings of happiness, I believe there can sometimes be too much of a good thing. Celebrating for days in a crowded house with dozens of family members, overindulging in one too many meals, not having any time to yourself… before you know it, you’re stressed out during the most wonderful time of the year. And no one wants that.
But there are some simple ways you can carve out a few minutes of “me time” and regain some of your calm during the holidays this year. Grandma might scold you for using your smartphone, but these 7 mindfulness apps could be your secret weapons to finding calm this season.
An app for mindfulness
Sometimes all it takes to find calm is regaining a sense of mindfulness. One of the simplest and most effective ways to become more mindful is to meditate, and the Simple Habit app helps you carve out 5 minutes each day to stop and breathe. So in between bouncing from holiday party to holiday party, use this app to find calm amidst the chaos.
An app to relieve stress anywhere, anytime
Where there’s a Whil, there’s a way. Holiday stress doesn’t just start at home; it can occur in the workplace, at school, pretty much anywhere, and the people behind this health and wellness app recognize this issue. Luckily, schools can offer Whil to their students to help them improve their overall academic performance, employers can offer Whil to their employees as a new perk, and you can use it on your own for immediate stress relief.
An app to help you stick to your goals
You might want to practice yoga or set aside time every day for meditation, but do you actually get around to it? And even if you do, is it for the full amount of time that you originally wanted? Distractions are a part of daily life, but the Samsara timer app helps you disregard them, if only for a few minutes. It’s the perfect app to help you find that “me time” and stick to it during the holiday season.
An app to help you kick bad habits
Unhealthy habits and the holidays sort of go hand in hand. I’m guilty of eating that last cookie or taking an extra slice of ham just like everyone else, but I still believe in trying to be healthy. Today is an app that helps you track your daily habits, which in turn can help you better understand any unhealthy habits. You can even make to-do lists and set personal goals within the app to start living a healthier lifestyle.
An app for improved mental health
If you’re already preparing to set New Year’s resolutions, you’ll want to download the Remente app. This app prides itself on being able to help you focus on what’s most important in life. Using the app, you can strengthen your mental health, take various courses to improve it, and track your progress along the way. It’s basically like an on-the-go therapist. And who doesn’t want one of those?
An app for science-based meditation
This holiday season, get your brain into tip-top shape. Headspace advertises itself as a personal training app for your mind. Using the science behind meditation, Headspace helps you learn how to meditate in just 10 minutes each day. It even has a buddy feature, where you can link up with your friends to motivate and learn from each other.
An app to help you relax
If you’ve never heard of binaural beats before, you’ve been missing out on a whole new level of relaxation. Binaural beats are sounds of varying frequencies that, when played into each ear, can actually help you relax in different ways. The Binaural app can help you meditate, sleep sounder, or even concentrate better. Grab your headphones and get relaxin’.
What are your favorite ways to chill out during the holiday madness? Would you try any of these apps? Let me know in the comments.
