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Find new ways to relax with the help of technology. Hit ‘download’ to improve your health, help your kids to de-stress, or save money!
Learn to meditate
Looking for an app to teach you how to meditate the easy way in 2018? Download Headspace – the free version of this app offers 10 daily 10-minute mindful meditations, and the app can even access your calendar to help you set aside meditation time in your day.
See headspace.com/headspacemeditation-app
Save money
Track your every cent with Pocketbook, an easy budgeting app that automatically organises your spending into categories, such as clothing, food and fuel, showing you where money is being spent. When you know where everything is going, it makes it much easier to save.
Visit getpocketbook.com
Wake up easily
Sleeping through that snooze button again? Here’s an intelligent solution! The Sleep Cycle app analyses your sleep and wakes you in the lightest sleep phase, which is the natural way to wake up feeling rested and relaxed.
See sleepcycle.com
Train your mind
Utilising some of the best CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and ACT (acceptance commitment therapy) methods, What’s Up app – not to be confused with What’s App – helps you cope when facing depression, anxiety, anger or stress. It features ways to overcome the 12 most common negative thinking patterns.
Visit facebook.com/whatsupsapp
Seven-minute workout
We all know that increased exercise can help address many stress and wellbeing issues, but we often retort: ‘I have no time to exercise!’ All it takes is seven minutes! A growing body of research has shown that the seven-minute workout can have similar, if not better, benefits than extended exercise sessions.
Go to perigee.se/apps/seven
Lower stress in kids
Mindful Powers is a fun but educational app that takes a holistic approach to helping kids become more mindful of their feelings. There are 10 interactive, voice-guided sessions, and a character called a Flibbertigibbet that you can interact with. It’s a great introduction for all kids.
Make falling asleep easy
Smiling Mind, a mindfulness app, reports that 68 per cent of participants feel a greater sense of calm after using it. Just 10 minutes is all you need to turn off the mind chatter and tune in. Not only will it help you learn mindfulness, this Aussie app is a great way to drift off to sleep.
Visit smilingmind.com.au
Limit screen time
Are you making a New Year’s resolution to stop wasting time on social media? Moment app is the one to download. You can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even manage your family’s screen time from your own phone and set up time for your entire family to be screen-free during dinner.
Check it out at inthemoment.io
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
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