When the iPhone first came out, I resisted getting a smartphone as I felt it wasn’t really necessary for me to essentially have a small computer in my pocket. However, more than a decade later, and almost everyone has a smartphone these days. They’re such a big part of our lives, that it’s really no surprise that we use them for everything from keeping in touch with loved ones, through to doing our personal banking and helping to hack our health. With the addition of applications, your smartphone quickly becomes a machine that can help you in so many areas of your health. Keep reading for my top 4 ways you can use apps to improve your health.
Break Bad Habits
Do you have some bad habits you’d like to get rid of? There’s an app for that! Of course it depends on what kind of smartphone you have, but one of my favorite options is an app called Streaks, it allows you to track how many days in a row you complete your desired habit. You don’t even have to measure daily, you can customize it so it’s tracking daily, weekly, monthly or whatever. There’s another app called Productive that is quite similar to Streaks but with a few more options. There are both free options and paid options available. If you’re trying to break a stronger habit, like an addiction, it might be a better option to check into some detoxification centers to get the treatment you need and deserve.
Track Your Sleep
How well did you sleep last night? Have you ever bothered to see how variables such as when you have your last coffee, your exercise, and your lifestyle impact your sleep? Getting a good night’s sleep can make such a big difference to so many areas of your life, from your productivity, mood, right through to your overall energy levels. There are a number of great apps that make it easy to track your sleep, check out Sleep Cycle or Pillow for two of the best options I’ve tried.
Remind Yourself to Hydrate
Are you drinking enough water each day? Changes are you’re not, so this is an area of your life you can easily change and you’ll soon see all the health benefits. Adding in a few extra glasses of water each day can do wonders for how hydrated you are. When we’re dehydrated we feel sluggish, find it hard to concentrate, and it can even have long term health consequences. For a friendly app that reminds you to properly hydrate, check out Water Llama or Hydro Coach and get those Oz in!
Get Meditating
Taking time out each day to meditate can be life changing and anyone who’s managed to make this a regular habit has probably told you countless times how much they enjoy it. There are so many great apps for meditating, it can be a bit overwhelming choosing one. However I’ve had a really good experience with both Calm and Headspace if you’d like to start with those.
Apps can be a wonderful way to improve your health. I hope these suggestions give you some actionable ways you can improve your health with apps. All the best on your new health journey for the new year.
