Best Apps for Relaxation & Mindfulness

Everyone could do with some relaxation, given the busy lifestyles we all lead.

The modern age is filled with deadlines, social pressures and many other things, leaving not much time for relaxation.

However, this could lead to becoming stressed and feeling anxious. The constant thoughts in your head could prevent you from focusing on what’s important.

But there are methods for relaxation and mindfulness. This includes the use of mobile apps.

With the development of technology, there are apps for everything, including relaxation.

There are numerous apps available to suit all relaxation preferences, whether it be to help with sleep or to manage stress.

Here is a selection of apps to help with relaxation and mindfulness.

Calm

Calm is the full package. Not only does the app help with relaxation and mindfulness, but it also helps with anxiety.

The app is great for those who have trouble sleeping since it is important for managing stress.

By purchasing a subscription, it has an in-app coach that guides you through customisable easy-to-follow breathing exercises and teaches meditation classes.

These are good for beginners and for seasoned practitioners.

Calm also offers a mood check-in feature that tracks the user’s mood throughout the day and puts together a personalised report.

Calm even features nature sounds and sleep stories to help users to have a relaxed sleep.

In addition to the relaxation exercises, there is a Mindful Eating series, which aims to promote healthy eating habits.

Calm has a lot to offer which is why it is one of the best apps to help with relaxation and mindfulness.

Colorfy

Colorfy is a digital colouring book designed for adults which can help relax the mind.

The app features a selection of images and mandalas to choose from but users can also upload their own sketches to colour.

This can ensure hours of colouring in a flow state.

Adult colouring has proven to be therapeutic and a great way to reduce stress.

A study from PubMed found that adult colouring helped lower anxiety levels in participants.

Focusing your attention on the beautiful designs may help distract you from your anxious thoughts and help provide some calm.

While Colorfy has a large variety of images to colour for free, a subscription has to be purchased in order to get access to the full library of images.

Thankfully, the app offers a seven-day free trial, meaning you can try before you buy.

Headspace

One of the best-known relaxation apps is Headspace.

Founder Andy Puddicombe created a blend of timeless teachings and the modern digital space, resulting in an app that is packed with features.

Headspace’s guided meditation and mindfulness techniques for daytime use can help users find calmness, wellness and balance.

At night, there are various meditation methods to try out before bed.

This includes soothing music, nature sounds or storytelling sleep casts.

Headspace builds personalised plans based on the user’s input, meaning it is sure to have something for everyone.

The Basics pack is free and contains a 10-day foundational course.

Through a subscription, users have access to hundreds of exercises that will help with relaxation and mindfulness.

Mindbody

Working out and fitness help with relaxation and Mindbody is designed to focus on the physical side of wellness.

The app can help users find the best place for them to work on their fitness.

Local workout classes, wellness services, and beauty appointments can be found by location, time, date, and category with easy-to-use filters.

There are more than 53,000 businesses that offer fitness classes.

For a post-workout recovery, users can also book things like a massage with the app.

Users can connect their fitness tracker to see calories burned. By doing this, users stay motivated.

However, it is not limited to beauty appointments or fitness. Users can access local nutritionists to track and improve their eating habits.

This app is ideal for those looking to relax through the use of physical activity.

Breathwrk

Breathing exercises are a helpful way to reduce stress, especially if you have anxiety.

Thankfully, Breathwrk is an app aimed at breathing techniques.

It takes the science of breathing exercises further by bringing together a collection of breathing exercises based on your goal.

The goal could be falling asleep, feeling relaxed, feeling energised or alleviating stress.

Breathwrk takes users through how to do each exercise and can send daily reminders.

Most of the app’s breathing exercises are completely free, but with a monthly fee, users have access to a lot more exercises and have unlimited access to track breathing habits.

The app also offers a seven-day trial before signing up for a subscription.

Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep

Having lots of thoughts running through your head can be stressful and are signs of anxiety.

But with the gentle sounds and sights of nature of this app, you can slow down, breathe and clear your thoughts.

Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep is a great relaxation app to use when trying to sleep.

Sounds range from thunder and rain to crackling fires and bird sounds, meaning there is something for everyone.

Set the app timer to listen while you gently fall asleep. Or, set one of the tracks as your morning alarm to ensure a soothing sound to start the day.

According to a study, listening to nature sounds can be helpful when reducing stress.

Therefore, this app may be a simple way to lower stress levels.

The majority of features are free. But with one-time purchases, users can gain access to more sounds.

These are a selection of apps to help relax the mind and lower stress levels but there are many more out there.

With so many options available, choose the app that works best for you.

It could be that you need help clearing your mind to gently fall asleep or that you need a little push looking for a place to improve physical wellness.

Whatever your choice is, it is important to remember that some of the apps may not be suited to you.

If you find that is the case, consider trying a different app.

So, if you’re looking for something to help with relaxation and mindfulness, try these apps out.