Most of us are spending a lot more time indoors these days. That means activities like cooking and wellness classes, and even therapy continue to be virtual. But some of us prefer to do things at our own pace, outside of a class. What are the different ways to do that in the new year?
Here are some apps to make taking care of your health and your daily life a little easier.
Manna
Price: Free
Need more inspiration beyond online cooking classes? Try the Manna app. Manna was created to share with others while you are cooking at home. Manna is for everyone, from amateur to more experienced cooks. Manna isn’t just a recipe app, it’s also a cooking network that enables you to connect with others while you’re cooking at home. Swap recipes and follow your friends and family and interact with other users, including posting photos of your successes—or failures!
Features include a scanner that allows you to make a formatted recipe quickly and a recipe editor that lets you personalize recipes. Its Cook along feature gives you step-by-step directions. You can even organize your and others’ recipes into a personalized cookbook.
Noom
Price: $59 per month
Or perhaps you’re looking to take better care of your health in general. Noom and its app are a good place to start. The program was designed by psychologists to help you fulfill your health goals and needs in a long-lasting way. Noom, which can help you get your health on track for the long term, offers one-on-one health coaching and group support.
Talkspace
Price: $260-$396 per month. Accepts insurance.
Talkspace, a confidential online therapy app, is perfect for those who want to connect with a specialist virtually for mental health needs, and whenever it is convenient for you, even if it’s late at night, via text, video, or voice. To begin, you complete a quick assessment, then pick your therapist—Talkspace connects you with the right provider for your needs—and start. You also can switch therapists if you need to.
The Unlimited Messaging Therapy Premium plan ($316 monthly) includes daily responses from your therapist, up to five days per week, as well as a 30-minute live session every month.
Moodnotes
Price: Free. Premium is $9.99 per month.
Designed by psychologists and featured in Vogue, Moodnotes is an app which, by helping you keep track of your mood, also helps you improve your thinking habits. It allows you to determine the cause of your present mood and develop better thinking habits. The premium version enables you to make unlimited entries every day and use Moodnotes’ “Notable Insights” section.
Recovery Road
Price: Free
Designed by psychologists, the Recovery Record app helps those with eating disorders get on the path to recovery. The app allows you to confidentially keep track of your meals and thoughts, as well as customize your meal plan and schedule reminders. You are then able to share your record with your treatment team. The app also includes affirmation messages to help you along your way. *This app needs to be used under the supervision of a health care professional.
Calm
Price: 7-Day Free Trial. Then $69.99 billed annually, cancel anytime.
Calm is the “#1 app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation”. With Calm, you can work your way through guided meditation sessions, which can help reduce stress and anxiety and also improve your sleep. Calm is for everyone, from beginners to advanced users, and with sessions as brief as 3 minutes, or as long as 25, you can find something that will fit your schedule.
These are just some of the apps and services that you can try outside of virtual group classes, at your own pace, and from the comfort of your home this year—and beyond.
Not that fond of apps? You can also search for therapists on Psychology Today, and many are offering remote sessions these days.