You've likely heard about self-care, but why should self-care be an essential part of your life? Self-care isn't just about spoiling yourself with a lavish spa day or joining the newest yoga class. Self-care can be any simple act that you enjoy, like going for a walk or watching your favorite TV show.
What's more, practicing self-care regularly can have some incredible benefits for your mental, physical, and emotional health. So, it's no surprise that there is a large range of apps that are dedicated to self-care. However, can these apps really positively affect your overall health?
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What Is a Self-Care App Meant to Do?
Although not all self-care apps are alike, plenty of them offer very similar features. Some of the most common features include meditation sessions, gratitude journaling, breathing exercises, positive affirmations, and mood checkers.
Furthermore, another standard occurrence is that almost all of them are aesthetically pleasing whether that's through an adorable virtual self-care pet or a lighthearted, pleasant appearance.
More importantly, besides providing you with tools you can use to take care of yourself, self-care apps help you be more mindful of your well-being. In addition, self-care apps are a particularly great tool for people who struggle to find the time for self-care.
Can You Trust Self-Care Apps?
Sure, there is an abundance of self-care Android and iOS apps available on Google Play and the App Store, but are they all credible? Naturally, not all apps are trustworthy, yet among the thousands of self-care apps available, there are some genuinely good self-care apps. These superior self-care apps are often backed by science and evidence from real experts.
Then again, some self-care apps offer limited features without paying for a premium subscription first, while others go about self-care in a way that can do more harm than good.
Some self-care apps are far too confusing, complicated, and difficult to navigate. This can then make an app feel like more of a hindrance to your self-care instead of a help. Overall, it's important to always be careful not to put all your trust into an app without doing the proper research and testing first.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Self-Care App?
Self-care apps serve as constant reminders to practice self-care. After all, it's likely that you have your smartphone close by throughout the entire day. And even though it's recommended that you don't spend hours glued to your smartphone, if you're going to use it, why not use it for something that can positively influence your overall health?
As previously mentioned, self-care apps work wonders for those who don't make self-care a priority in their lives. But how? Depending on the app you're using, you can often set self-care goals or receive daily prompts, so you never forget to take some time to focus on yourself ever again.
Are These Self-Care Apps for Everyone?
The majority of them all have the same objective—to help you improve your overall well-being by taking better care of yourself. The key is that you have to find an app that is right for you in terms of your specific needs and the features that it offers.
For instance, Finch is a cute digital self-care pet that can help you improve your self-care routine, but it might seem a bit too childish for some. On the other hand, some people might enjoy the idea of turning self-care into a game using a virtual pet bird that they can care for and dress in charming outfits.
Examples of Self-Care Mobile Apps to Consider Downloading
With so many self-care apps available on the market, it's tough to know which one is right for you. Below are some of the top-rated self-care smartphone apps, whether you're only looking for a simple app to do some positive daily journaling or an app to feed, pet, and play with a virtual self-care pet.
1. Finch
If caring for a ridiculously cute virtual pet appeals to you then you need to try the Finch self-care app. The way the app works is simple, all you have to do is complete your daily self-care goals to help Finch grow.
One thing that makes Finch stand out from the rest is just how many self-care tools it offers, including a habit tracker, mood journal, guided breathing exercises, and more.
Download: Finch for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
2. Headspace
There are an endless amount of reasons to add meditation to your daily self-care practice, including better self-awareness and reduced stress. And the best part is that all you need is a few minutes a day to see the positive benefits it can have on your overall health.
Headspace is the ultimate self-care app to download if you want to focus on daily guided meditation sessions, sleep stories and sounds, and mindfulness courses. Additionally, Headspace offers exercise-related content like yoga, cardio workouts, and dance classes.
Download: Headspace for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
3. Amaru
Like Finch, Amaru is a self-care companion that you take care of while taking care of yourself. The aim of the app is to set yourself self-care goals. Then, when you accomplish said goals, you begin to grow a stronger bond with Amaru.
Moreover, you have the option to add any self-care goals you'd like, whether you want to eat healthier meals or take a bubble bath. Some of the Amaru app's other top self-care features include mini-games, guided meditation sessions, and a gratitude journal.
Download: Amaru for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Gratitude
Simple and easy to use, Gratitude is a self-care app that centers on helping you practice daily gratitude and taking care of yourself using straightforward self-care tools like a gratitude journal, positive daily affirmations, vision boards, and daily zen content.
Gratitude's journal prompts make it an especially helpful app if you always seem to put self-care on the back burner. Basically, Gratitude is a journaling tool that you can effortlessly use on your smartphone instead of carrying around an actual journal.
Download: Gratitude for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
Apps Make Self-Care Easier Than Ever Before
Self-care can be about anything, from getting a good night's rest to playing your favorite video game. And yet people fail to make self-care an important part of their lives even though it can do so much for your mental, physical, and emotional health.
So what could be more convenient and accessible than using a self-care app on your smartphone? Of course, not all self-care apps offer exactly the same clever features, tools, and content, but it won't hurt to download a few and see how they can lend you a helping hand!
