Self care is a hot topic, and for good reason. It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of everyday life and forget to take care of yourself. But when you do that, you end up running on fumes—and eventually, those fumes will start to catch up with you.
So what is self-care? It’s the small things we do every day (or at least try) that make us feel good about ourselves and our lives. It’s anything from taking a walk after work or getting a massage to cooking something healthy or reading a book by candlelight. Self-care is what makes us feel better when we’re feeling down and gives us energy when we’re feeling tired.
With so many different ways to practice self-care out there, it can be hard to figure out which ones are right for you! That’s why we’ve put together this list: here are five apps that will help you find new ways to take care of yourself.
Best Apps For Self Care
What even is self-care? Is it taking a moment to be grateful? Eating that piece of chocolate? Putting on the face mask? Getting to the gym? Letting go of toxic relationships? Looking at hot pictures of Prince Harry? Nine out of 10 people would say yes to all of the above, but actually allowing ourselves to practice self-care guilt-free is a lot easier said than done (thanks, millennial culture).
Now that you’ve taken the first step toward achieving self-care by opening this article, download any of the 12 apps, below, that will work their stress-reducing magic to help you feel your best. Because that’s what self-care is really all about.
- Co-Star Astrology
DOWNLOAD IT
Sponsored Links
Play Now In Your Browser
Hero Wars
Sometimes all it takes is a little insight from the stars to shake off a bad mood. Co-Star’s daily free personalized charts—which allow you to plug in your sun, moon and rising sign—can help you understand why you may be feeling stressed, and encourage some big-picture thinking. (Trust me, it gets deep.) You can also view your friends’ charts once they accept you on the app.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU…
Sorry, the video player failed to load.(Error Code: 101102)
- White Noise Lite
DOWNLOAD IT
Trouble sleeping? White Noise Lite provides you with relaxing white noise, which contains frequencies with equal intensities proven to help you sleep and soothe migraines or headaches. Think: rain or birds chirping. You can mix your own sounds on the no-fee app for a personalized touch, depending on what makes you feel most comfortable.
- PictureThis
DOWNLOAD IT
When you need to remind yourself that better days are ahead, try heading to your local park and spending some time with nature. While you do that, download the free PictureThis plant identifier app to discover the gorgeous flowers and plants around you, and bring some of that happiness home with you. The botanical encyclopedia pinpoints nearly 30 million flowers, trees, succulents, cacti, mushrooms, herbs, shrubs, and grasses, so you’re able to find the ones that spark joy.
- Headspace
DOWNLOAD IT
Headspace guides meditation beginners through hundreds of mindfulness techniques to help you achieve the balance you’ve desperately been craving. No need to worry about having enough time for it—two- to three-minute meditations exist for when you need to pause and center yourself in the middle of a stressful work day. Subscriptions begin at $13 per month or $95 per year.
- Shine
DOWNLOAD IT
Shine allows you to prioritize mental health by helping set personal growth goals, sending daily motivational texts, and providing “Shine talks” on everything from stress and anxiety to self-love to burnout. (Lookin’ at you, 2020 election season.) It’s like having your best friend in your pocket 24/7 reminding you how badass you are. Monthly subscriptions are $10 and yearly subscriptions are $54.
- Goodreads
DOWNLOAD IT
Curling up with an amazing book is a great escape from reality, but you don’t have to do it alone. Connect with the millions of Goodreads readers (for free!) who are reading the same book as you, asking each other questions or discussing that crazy plot twist.
You can also join Marie Claire’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC, to ensure you always have someone to read with. Follow Marie Claire on Goodreads here and learn more about #ReadWithMC here.
- Colorfy
DOWNLOAD IT
Coloring book, but make it digital. Instead of bingeing that Netflix series you’ve re-watched twice already, crawl under the covers and open up the Colorfy app. It’s super relaxing and the only thing you’ll be worrying about is staying inside the lines. Once you’re done, save it and print it out to add some new wall art to your room. Access the app with weekly ($3), monthly ($8), or annual ($40) subscriptions.
- Moment
Text, Green, Font, Line, Screenshot, Icon, Number,
(Image credit: Moment)
DOWNLOAD IT
Ironically, there’s an app to help you get off your phone and be more present. Moment tracks your phone usage, determining which apps you use the most (i.e. how much time you’re spending scrolling through Twitter and Instagram in bed), and even offers coaching on how to reduce phone time—all for free. 2019, folks.
- Amazon Music
DOWNLOAD IT
Sometimes self-care comes in the form of listening to your favorite artists on repeat. Plug in your headphones and open up Amazon Music to stream songs from artists like Daniel Caesar and Frank Ocean who never fail to put everyone in their feels. Prime members can join for $7.99/month (non-Prime members pay $9.99/month) or $79/year.
- Five Minute Journal
DOWNLOAD IT
Instead of fearing the tragic moment the musings in your Notes app accidentally get deleted, download the $5 Five Minute Journal app and start taking—you guessed it—five minutes out of your day to reflect and focus on the positive. It includes a timeline view to access all of your previous journal entries, daily inspiring quotes, and a one-photo-per-day tool to capture the feel-good moments, like sunsets and brunch…obviously!
- Calm
DOWNLOAD IT
If the name didn’t give it away, the free Calm app—equipped with Siri capabilities—helps people relax when dealing with stressful situations like consuming the never-ending news cycle or preparing for that upcoming job interview. It provides daily meditation, a sleep timer that will play calming music until you drift off, and masterclasses on topics including how to fuel your creativity without fear by best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert.
- ClassPass
DOWNLOAD IT
When many people think of self-care, they think of doing something great for their bodies, like exercising. With the free ClassPass app, you can book group fitness classes in your area, like yoga and boxing, to boost those endorphins. Insert Legally Blonde reference here. After you finish the class, go home and put a face mask on. You deserve it.
Rachel Epstein
Rachel Epstein
Editor
Rachel Epstein is an editor at Marie Claire, where she writes and edits culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also manages the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game, finding a new coffee shop, or analyzing your cousin’s birth chart—in no particular order.
self care apps for teens
It’s no doubt that the recent pandemic has been hard on everyone, and teens are no exception to that.
For those who are taking courses online, it can be hard to adjust to the new online methods or find the motivation to perform well. And for those in the classroom, taking extra safety precautions and being around others after a long period of staying at home can bring up feelings of anxiousness and stress.
During the pandemic, high school students aren’t able to go to the events most teens look forward to, such as sporting events, prom, and walking at graduation.
Add to that the typical teenage hormone shifts, the constant closeness with family, and the absence of seeing friends and developing independence, and it’s easy to see why so many are struggling mentally and emotionally during this time.
A favorite outlet for teens (and most adults) is their phones—and fortunately, there are plenty of accessible mental health apps available on iOS and Android that can help during these troubling times.
What sort of mental health problems are teenagers facing during the pandemic?
Developmentally, teen years are a time of hormonal changes, chemical imbalances, and (potentially) mental, attention, behavioral disorders.
Regardless of the pandemic, these include:
Anxiety, including social anxiety and panic disorder
Depression or major depressive disorder
ADD or ADHD
Behavioral disorders, including oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder
Personality disorders, including antisocial and borderline personality disorders
Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Addiction
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
While the list above has always been a concern for teens, some conditions are more prevalent due to dealing with the pandemic.
According to Dr. Strelitz, a pediatrician at Bayside Medical Group – Pinole, “Anxiety and depression in teenagers has been a huge problem, even prior to the pandemic, and is getting worse.”
While it may be more challenging to manage these issues and disorders during COVID, there are ways for teens to cope from the comfort of their own homes.
How can teens cope with mental health issues at home?
Thanks to today’s technology and a generally more-open conversation about mental health care, there is a multitude of ways to help manage problems like stress levels, anxiety and depression:
Talk to a friend or family member: One of the problems that the pandemic has presented is a lack of social interaction and physical touch. Openly communicating with a friend or family member can alleviate this stress. Playing or cuddling with the family pet is also a great way to relieve stress!
Get some fresh air: While it’s important to stay safe during the pandemic, it’s still possible to safely enjoy the great outdoors. Teens can go for a walk or a run, or simply try finding a nice sunny spot to relax in. Getting more exercise improves mental conditions, and higher vitamin D levels help build a stronger immune system!
Explore a new interest: The internet is a treasure trove of information on learning new hobbies—from DIY trends on TikTok to music tutorials on YouTube. Finding ways for teens to express themselves creatively is a great outlet for managing mental and emotional health.
Try mindfulness exercises: Meditation is one of the best ways to cope with feelings of stress and anxiety. Other exercises to try besides meditation is yoga and breathwork.
Note: These exercises do not replace regular therapy or psychiatric sessions. If you have a mental or emotional health concern, reach out to a professional immediately.
While all of the above are fantastic options for everyone, some teens may require techniques that are specifically designed for bettering their mental health. Thankfully, there are lots of apps that can help with this.
The best mental health apps for teens
There is a wide variety of easily-accessible apps that can help teens improve their mental health by performing helpful exercises, learning to manage and cope with certain feelings and behaviors, and giving them an outlet to speak with an expert.
Here are some of our favorites:
Mindfulness and Meditation:
Calm: Best for visualizing and looking inward
Headspace: Best for learning lifelong mindfulness skills
Aura: Best for personalized tracks and coaches
Simple Habit: Best for teens with busy schedules
Insight Timer: Best for free guided meditations and talks from celebrities and gurus around the world
Behavioral and Habit Aids:
MindDoc: Best for teens who struggle with or want more insight into their mental wellbeing
Pacifica: Best for breaking the vicious cycle of negative thoughts
Calm Harm: Best for teens who struggle with self-harm
My3: Best for teens with suicidal thoughts who could benefit from a support network
MoodPath: Best for teens who need help detecting symptoms of depression
App-Based Therapy:
Note: These apps may require health insurance and parent/guardian permission.
TalkSpace: Best overall
TeenCounseling: Best for teen-specific counseling
BetterHelp: Best for livechat sessions
Larkr: Best for video sessions
Pride Counseling: Best for LGBTQ
If you or a loved one are showing signs of struggling with mental health, reach out to a professional at D’Amore for help. We offer innovative treatments and a safe space for those who struggle with a variety of mental disorders and illnesses. Call us today to see how we can help!
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines