Clear your mind and get on track

We all need a little time away from the hustle and bustle and it’s important to take time to relax and reset so you can get the most out of life.

October is Mental Health Month so there’s no better time to stop and think about our mental health and wellbeing to understand just how important mental health is in our day-to-day lives.

Relaxing and resetting doesn’t always mean meditation, so we’ve put together a selection of apps backed by research and evidence-based techniques that will have you feeling refreshed in no time!

These apps are not suggested as a replacement for professional advice however they may help to support and guide you through daily hurdles you may encounter. If you’re looking for support and someone to talk to, there are a number of organisations who you can contact listed on the Health Direct website.

 

1. Smiling Mind

Co-developed by psychologists and health professionals, Smiling Mind is a not-for-profit organisation that works to make mindfulness meditation accessible to everyone.

This app has reached over 2 million people worldwide, is used in over 200 workplaces, and is used by tens of thousands of educators in schools with more than 1.5 million students.

10 minutes is easy to find, right? There are 10 minute programs for every age, sport, classroom and workplace to ensure that the content is tailored to your needs.

You can get it for free on the App store or Google Play.

 

2. MoodMission

Inspired by a future where people have support that’s easily accessible to change the way they’re feeling, MoodMission became a reality following the backing it received as a crowdfunding project on Pozible.

For those days when you’re feeling out of sorts, there are a range of activities that can help to reduce stress, low moods or anxious feelings. Simply tell the app how you’re feeling and you’ll be given a tailored list of five quick and effective missions to complete.

MoodMission is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and all missions are developed from scientific research which can be found in the app so you can learn about why the activities you’re doing are improving your mindset.

To encourage people to regularly use the app, completing missions earns the user rewards. As you increase your usage the app learns which types of Missions work best for you and tailors your Missions to you.

You can get it for free on the App store or Google Play.

 

3. Sway

The city streets or an airport may not seem like the ideal place to meditate but with Sway, it’s possible. This app is a little different – Sway is an ‘interactive meditation’ experience that allows you to practice mindfulness subtly anywhere, anytime. By tracking your movement the app provides feedback to help you regain focus. I guess you could label it a game because the app comes with 6 levels that will teach you new techniques to be mindful in everyday situations.

We perceive the world around us through our five basic senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This app teaches us to use the ‘forgotten’ 6th sense – an unconscious sense of our body movement and spatial awareness, scientifically referred to as proprioception.

Sway uses the ancient learnings of Tai Chi, known as ‘Meditation in Motion’ and enables the detection of voluntary human attention through slow, continuous and gentle body movements. This form of meditation has been proven to provide similar results to other modern meditations, but is better suited to those meditating in active and noisy environments.

Get it for $2.99 on the App store.

 

4. Insight Timer

 

Every type of meditation all in one location. It’s rated as the top free meditation app and it shows! Insight Timer has a community of more than 2,700,000 meditators using this app.

There are programs for everyone, including help with sleeping, dealing with anxiety and stress, getting through recovery and addiction, and learning self-love and compassion.

With a total of 2.5 billion meditation minutes (that’s more than any other app), 1,500 meditation teachers, and 7,000 free guided meditations, you’re sure to find the best program for you.

You can get it for free on the App store or Google Play.

 

5. The Check-In App

Beyondblue and Melbourne app developers Two Bulls developed the Check-in app by working with youth to remove the fear of having conversations with friends or peers who may be going through a difficult time.

The app guides the user through four super quick steps to get them thinking about the behaviours they’ve noticed, where they will “check in” with their friend, and what they will say. The app also has a list of things to consider based on friend’s reactions or if the user thinks they’ve said something they shouldn’t have. You can even let the app know how the chat went and get advice on where to go from there.

You can get it for free on the App store or Google play.

 

6. Snapshot

Snapshot is self-assessment tool to keep track of your health and wellbeing developed by the Black Dog Institute for Aussie adults.

The app encourages Aussies to monitor their mental health over time and engage with relevant services when necessary by providing general feedback and guidance for seeking help.

Snapshot is password protected so all content is confidential and for your eyes only. By logging your general happiness, mood, and anxiety, stresses, sleep, social support and alcohol intake, the app assesses your behaviour and provides general feedback with options for both online and offline mental health services.

You can get it for free on the App store or Google Play.

 

7. ReachOut WorryTime

Ever had a worry pop into your head that just won’t go away? Developed using cognitive behavioural techniques used by health and wellbeing practitioners to assist with anxiety and stress, ReachOut WorryTime lets you put all your worries in one place.

By jotting down your daily worries, the idea is that you can pause these thoughts from popping into your head by setting aside your worries until later so you can get on with your day. When you choose to come back to them, you can sort through your worries and discard the ones that no longer concern you.

You can get it for free on the App store or Google Play.

 

Do you have a go-to app to clear your mind? Let us know in the comments.

 

Images:

• App store
• Google play

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