World Mental Health Day was observed on October 10. It is observed on an annual basis “with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health,” according to the World Health Organization.1
The October 20, 2020 edition of Leger’s Weekly Survey revealed that 24% of Canadians and 16% of Americans reported that their mental health and stress levels are currently worse than during the first wave of the pandemic in March/April. With this in mind, the LEO Team met via video chat to discuss the apps that help to cheer us up when we are feeling down.
In this article, we’ll share 6 of our favourites.* All of them are available on iOS and Android! We know that you might be having a hard time right now, and we hope some of them help cheer you up too, even if just for a few moments.
Here we go!
1. MEDITATION APPS: CALM
There are many meditation apps on the market today, and the award-winning Calm app has a strong fan base. You can use the app to meditate (it’s great for beginners and those who are more advanced), listen to sleep stories (to help with restful sleep), or simply listen to nature sounds when you are trying to relax. For us, a calmer mind is a happier mind, and we love using this app when we feel our stress beginning to build.
2. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY APPS: STRAVA
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that there is “a consistent positive relationship between physical activity and happiness” (and anecdotally, the more active members of our team tend to agree!).2 One of our favourite physical activity apps is Strava, which allows you to track all sorts of physical activity, from walking or running to stand-up paddleboarding. The app offers a great way to track your progress and motivate yourself, or engage in some friendly competition with your friends (which can be a big mood-booster)!
3. GRATITUDE APPS: GRATITUDE
Numerous studies (including this one) have found that “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.” Expressing gratitude can be as simple as jotting down something you are thankful for daily. However, if you need reminders or are looking for a bit more of a structured approach, an app could be the perfect fit. We like the Gratitude app, which features reminders, daily quotes, and a private journaling option.
4. SLEEP APPS: SLEEP CYCLE
When was the last time you started your day on the wrong foot because you didn’t get enough sleep and were woken by your loud, incessant alarm? If you struggle with getting a good sleep and your happiness suffers in the morning, you might like the Sleep Cycle app. It analyzes your sleep patterns and wakes you up with calming music when you are sleeping lightly, to avoid that early-morning jolt. This app might help cheer you (and the people around you) up!
5. COLOURING APPS: COLORFY
Over the past few years, adult colouring books have become extremely popular (and many people find them very soothing!). Since then, a variety of colouring apps have made their way to the market as well. This is great news for those of us who get nervous about colouring on paper because we don’t want to accidentally go outside the lines (thank you, Undo function!). We like the Colorfy app, which offers a variety of pictures in different categories that you can colour for free: its bold, bright colours also boost our mood!
6. THE LEO APP
Although the LEO app is designed to gather Canadians’ and Americans’ opinions on a wide variety of topics, some of our members have mentioned that it can also be a positive distraction from pandemic-related worries. And honestly, expressing your opinion and getting things off your chest can be a great way to feel a little better (and contribute to positive societal change!). If you are interested, you can sign up for LEO here (it’s completely free!). We hope to welcome you to our community soon!
Download the LEO App! On iOS | On Android
Are you interested in learning more about how the pandemic is impacting Canadians’ and Americans’ mental health? Read our article here.
WHAT APPS DO YOU USE TO CHEER YOURSELF UP?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW
*Note: LEO is not affiliated with the Calm, Strava, Gratitude, Sleep Cycle, or Colorfy apps in any way.
Sources
1https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day
2https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-018-9976-0
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