6 apps which can elevate your #selfcare IRL

1. Oak.

This app has 3 different options for meditations you can do such as a mindful meditation, a loving kindness meditation and an unguided meditation. I personally like the unguided meditation because I can have a bit more control by putting an interval timer, changing the background noise and time duration. Plus there’s a countdown option too before you begin, which I love because it allows me some time to prepare before the meditation actually starts. So many times mediations start right off the bat, and well, I just wasn’t ready! As well as that, it gives you personal stats on how you’re doing and also the community who have download this app are doing. You can see how many people are mediating/breathing right now which I find motivating. Oak also has breathwork exercises for stillness and winding down to sleep.

2. Eternal Sunshine.

This app really has a lot to offer. There are so many guided meditations including ones to aid you in developing your chakras, or help you with anxiety before a test, or do when there is a full or new moon. I did a pre-ritual meditation which included tapping into the elements and let me tell you, the tea I got from the upcoming monthly tarot spread was scorching. We love to see it. It has affirmations for the chakras for example, and then affirmation exercises which allow you to get even more involved. For people who want more accountability they have seven day meditations, too. you can opt into little tidbits of prayers and wisdom to show up on your phone throughout the day. What I really value about this app is the inspirational talks they offer. It covers a range of topics, like gratitude, dealing with anger, suicide, not giving up. Real life shit.

3. Feelyou

This is a mood-tracker app where you can post how you feel at any time. The great thing about this app is you can be totally anonymous. People from around the world can ‘feel you’ on whatever you post, and reply with support. the feelings options you have are calm, anxious, happy, sad, terrible and amazing. Stats are provided too so you can see percentages of how many people with the app feel the same as you which can evoke a sense of comfort. There are communities you can join or make too. There’s a huge variety on there, from LGBTQIA+ groups, BTS groups, cosplay groups, gratitude groups, cancer support groups and cooking groups. I even saw a group titled “I’m here to listen.” and for me, that was poignant because for someone, that’s all they want at the end of the day.

4. #selfcare

OK. This is the. Cutest. App. Right off the bat, it will remind you to bring awareness to your body and where you’re keeping tension. It will remind you to breathe; accountability. It will ask you questions that encourage you to reflect more. The apps background is that of a bedroom with a person under the covers whose skin colour can be changed. Plus, it’s interactive! You have an altar and there's tarot cards which you can get a daily pull from. A candle is present to aid you in setting intentions, too. For some people, I know even before COVID-19 happened and we went into lockdown, couldn’t or didn’t want to leave their bedroom. The act of tidying up their room was something they found difficult. In the app, you can tidy up clothes on the floor which to me is a very satisfying little feature. There’s a journal option which you can customise, as well as a tape recorder so you can vocally get what you need off your chest. There’s so many other features, but get this. selfcare has a lil baby black cat you can interact with too. What more could you want?! This app holds space for you.

5. Aloebud

Designed in a teal colour in a grid layout, for me this app is aesthetically pleasing. The whole point of it is that you choose activity cards of things such as hydrating yourself, breathing, connecting with others, taking a break. You can customise it so you can have reminders to do these things at a set time/day of the week, too. Aloebud gives you an option to check in to keep accountability or to reflect on the theme of an activity card to gain more presence. There is a “people” activity card too, and one of the prompts it gives you is to write an encouraging message to your future self. As well as that, an activity log allows you to congratulate yourself on things you’ve done throughout the day.

6. Stoic.

Based on the concept of, well, stoicism, the colour scheme is black and white. Très fitting. Like most self-care apps, it has a range of exercises you can do but what makes this one different is that they have something called “fear setting”. A three-step exercise that encourages you to go deep into what is holding you back right now. As well as that, there’s an option to do negative visualisation which is meant to further build up gratitude in your life. In the journal entries you complete, there is an option to draw/scribble/doodle something along with your words which is fun and creative. Lastly, with every exercise they provide, they really get to the nitty gritty of what it does for you. Links to Ted talks are provided, and Stoic gives you example scenarios so you can better relate. It’s all laid out for you.