The holiday season can be a stressful time for many people. From family gatherings to financial pressures, there are plenty of things that can cause anxiety and stress.
But there is one thing that can help you avoid some of the holiday stressors: technology.
From apps that help you stay organized to ones that provide on-demand mental health support, there are plenty of ways that technology can help you during the holidays.
Apps That Help Your Mental Health
Reduce The Chaos
Apps like iStratus can help you get a grip on the chaos. Use it to keep track of your schedule and to-do lists. This can help you stay organized and avoid feeling overwhelmed by all that you have to do.
Still Your Mind
Use a meditation app like Headspace or Calm to help you relax and de-stress. Taking just 10 minutes out of your day to meditate can make a big difference in how you feel.
Track Your Mood
Using a tracking app like Moodscope or P Tracker to track your moods throughout the holiday season can help you identify stressors and figure out ways to avoid them. Don’t forget to make a note about what was happening at the time of your mood. Were you in a great mood because you had just finished a run or were you feeling insecure because you were spending time with a certain person? Tracking your mood can help you uncover your more dangerous triggers.
Just Breathe
Use an app like Breathe2Relax to help you control your breathing and anxiety levels. This can be a great tool when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Don’t stress that you can’t still your mind. You don’t have to. All you have to do is breathe.
Seek Professional Help
One of the best things to come from technology in the past couple of years is apps like TalkSpace or BetterHelp where you can get on-demand mental health support. If you’re really struggling, these apps can put you in touch with a therapist who can help.
How Are You Sleeping?
Getting enough sleep is so important for your mental health. The Sleep Cycle or Pillow apps can help you to track your sleep and get better quality rest. This is important all year long but especially when trying to maintain your mental health during a stressful time.
Sweat It Out
Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve your mood and not a bad excuse for getting away from the people and situations that are causing your stress. MyFitnessPal or Fitbit will help you to track your physical activity and make sure you’re getting enough exercise.
Diet Plays A Role In Mental Health
Eating healthy can help improve your mood and reduce stress levels. Use an app like Fooducate or HealthyOut to make healthier food choices. You may find that small changes go a long way toward helping you feel calmer.
Nothing Beats A Good Book
Sometimes all you need is some quiet time on your own. Use an app like Goodreads or Pocket to find books that can help you relax and escape from the stress of the season.
Sing Along
Use Pandora or Spotify to help you create holiday-themed playlists full of festive music. Listening to uplifting music can help improve your mood and reduce stress.
Discover Your Creative Side
Sometimes all you need is a few minutes to stop focusing on the stress of the day. Use an app like Color Therapy or Pigment to color and de-stress. This can be a great way to take a break from all the holiday preparations and relax for a few minutes.
Remember Why You Work So Hard
Use an app like 1 Second Everyday or Timehop to create video montages of past holidays. This can help you remember all the good times you’ve had and appreciate the present moment.
Create New Habits
Fabulous or Streaks are apps that help to develop positive habits that can help reduce stress. This can be anything from taking a few minutes each day to meditate or journaling about your stressors.
Harness The Power Of Gratitude
We love the Gratitude Journal or Happify apps. These apps help you to focus on the positive things in your life. This can help shift your mindset and reduce stress levels.
Back To Breathing
We know we mentioned taking a breath earlier but honestly, it cannot be overstated. We also love Breathing Space or Stop, Breathe & Think to find quick and easy stress-relief exercises. These can be great to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.
Creating A Calming Playlist
Two more meditation apps that are loved are Calm or Relax Melodies to create custom relaxation sounds and sleep preludes. This can help you fall asleep easier and get better quality rest.
Be Understood
Not being understood can add a whole new level of stress. Using apps like Google Translate or iTranslate to help you communicate with family and friends who speak different languages can help reduce stress and facilitate communication.
Connect With People You Love
Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime are great apps to help you stay connected with loved ones who live far away. This can help you feel less alone during the holiday season.
Coordinate Your Plans
Use an app like Cozi or Life360 to coordinate holiday plans with your family and friends. This can help you avoid stress and stay organized.