I love phone apps! I have an app for pretty much everything – entertainment, finances, books, cooking.. Anytime I have a problem I do a search for an app that will help me fix it or manage it.
I have so many apps and I even have folders for each category. The folder with some of the most apps is my “Health” folder.
Here are my top five..
SleepCycle
I’ve been using this one for many years now and it’s has been a life changer to how I wake up in the morning. No more jarring loud alarms. Now I am gently awakened while I’m in my lightest sleep cycle. I can even pick the range of time I want to be woken up in. For example, if I know I need to be up by 7:30 I can set the alarm to go off anytime between 7:00 and 7:30 when I’m the most awake. Ever notice that you can wake up naturally a little before your alarm and you feel pretty awake, but you decide to go back to sleep anyway because you have that extra 15 minutes left…and then the alarm goes off 15 minutes later and you feel terrible and so tired. That’s the problem with getting awaken while in a deep sleep cycle.
How does it do it? Somehow through your phone’s microphone – this app can analyze your movements, but can ignore other sounds like snoring, fans or even your partner moving…(what!) HOW? Idk it’s magic.
It also gives you a record of your sleep, helps you see trends of when you are going to bed and getting up, can record your own sleep notes and it even captures your snoring! if you have ever wondered what that sounds like..
Try out the “Freemium” version to test it out and consider the premium subscription for $29.99 a year for more features like the sleep aid (calming sleep sounds to help you fall asleep easier), snore detection, sleep notes and more. It’s well worth the investment for a good night’s sleep!
Calm
Once you’ve woken up earlier you have time to try some morning meditation you’ve been wanting to do..
There are lots of meditation apps now..Headspace, Balance, Ten Percent Happier Meditation to name a few, but my favorite is “Calm”. Tamara Levitt’s voice is so smoothing and calming you’ll have no trouble getting into mediation or drifting off to sleep with a sleep story. Each day Tamara releases a 10-minute meditation with a different focus, and it ends with an inspiring quote you can share on social media or message to a friend.
There are many other series to listen to by her and other instructors as well that help with stress, focus anxiety and more. One of my favorites is the “Winnie the Pooh” series. Calm also helps me fall asleep with their sleep stories. Check it out for yourself and see why it’s the #3 top health app on the app store. Try it for free, $14.99/month after the free trial or go all in for the yearly subscription at $69.99/year and save over $100.
Now that you woke up feeling good, got in some meditation it’s time to work out…
The next three apps are all focused on working out. Depending on what type of movement you want to get in. We’ll start with some yoga..
DownDog
DownDog app (now called Yoga) is one I have had downloaded for many years, but didn’t really start using regularly recently during quarantine. DownDog makes it easy to start doing yoga and stick with it. You get to pick the right time of yoga you want to do from their 11 options from ashtanga or flow to an easy gentle or restorative class, pick your level from the five different options starting with beginner 1, the length of practice starting with as little as 3 minutes! I often go for the “full practice” on level “intermediate 1” with a flexibility boost, for 25 minutes with a 1 minute Savasana.
I love the flexibility with this appt – with all the options I can find the right type of yoga and length to get some yoga in everyday – I mean who doesn’t have 3 minutes to do some yoga! Oh and there is great music style options (I like alt Beats). You can even change the voice of the instructor and the amount of instructions you want to hear. This app really lets you create the experience you want and change it up every day. So if you have 3 minutes – so try out some yoga. Membership is $7.99/month or $49.99/per year.
HIIT app
The Downdog model was working so well they decided to come out with some additional apps – Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, 7 Minute and Prenatal Yoga. I recently tried out the HIIT app for some High Intensity Interval Training. This app works similarly to Downdog with the flexibility to choose the total workout time starting from 2 minutes to 55 minutes, the level, and the body part focus. It’s been an easy way to get some strength training in. One of my favorites is the 5 minutes of core work, level 1 with some Basic Pop music to keep me going. Membership is $7.99/month or $49.99/year.
Couch to 5K
Last, but not lease is the app that has gotten me off the couch and running. Couch to 5K is exactly what it sounds…this app helps you get from couch potato to keeping pace alongside your running friends doing those 5K “Fun Runs” as some call them. I have never been a runner. You know that “running high” people talk about? Yah, me neither. All I can think about when I’m running is “when can I stop?” This app has been the only way I have been able to stick with a running and feel some results.
Couch to 5K breaks down the training and starts off with just 1 minute of jogging followed by 1 minute and 30 seconds of walking and repeats for 20 minutes. Each week the jogging length increases as your endurance increases. You get to pick the type of trainer you want from the friendly “Runicorn” to the hardcore “Sergeant Block” that encourages you along the way while it plays your favorite music from your playlists.
Coach to 5K is the #8 Health & Fitness app. The app has a free version or a onetime cost of $2.99 for the full features and workouts.
Thanks for this. I needed the couch to 5k!!