When the cold, winter months are on their way it is very easy to feel unmotivated. And if you are taking particular attention to your vein health, you are probably very aware of the fact that you should be keeping active, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and finding ways to exercise. Thankfully, technology has provided us with easy ways to keep track of our progress, stay motivated, and have fun in the process.
But just because the warmer months are gone doesn't mean your momentum has to be. If you have a smartphone, there are a lot of free and helpful phone apps to help us stay motivated, organized, and on track with our wellness priorities all-year-'round. Healthy habits can help track proper nutrition and consistent exercise. There are also apps designed to help us get enough sleep, take care of our body and mind, and manage things like medications and doctor’s appointments - all of which play important roles in our overall wellness.
Because the winter months feel dark and be somewhat isolating, we encourage you to invite friends to journey together. You can share information, encourage each other, check in, and hold each other accountable. Most apps have a social connection option that allows you to invite your friends into the app together with you. It's a great way to make your health journey fun...and it's a lot more fun to do it together.
So, to help with this, we have listed out some favorite - and free - health and wellness apps that could help you stay on track and consistent both in reaching your goals and in taking control over your health.
When it comes to your vein health, it is very important to remember to stand up and move throughout the day to promote proper blood circulation which will reduce the chance of blood clots and also burn more calories. Being completely customizable to your work schedule, the Stand Up! app allows you to set your reminder interval to any five-minute increment between five minutes and two hours to remind you to stand up throughout the workday.
Limit alarms to your time actually in the office so it doesn't bug you when you go out to lunch! Or if you find yourself sitting for long periods of time throughout the day at home, this app can be used the exact same way to help you stay moving.
Download the Stand Up! app here for iOS.
Having trouble sleeping is a common struggle amongst those who struggle with sleep. If you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, getting a good night's sleep is especially critical.
Tracking your sleep with Sleep Cycle throughout the night means you'll be able to evaluate your sleep cycle based on movement and sound analysis. It tracks snoring also, and snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. It works to wake you up when you are at your lightest sleep which means you'll be much less groggy when you wake up. You can also evaluate your sleep patterns and quality of sleep for each week, and keep a detailed log. We also have a free downloadable eBook entitled: "Waking Up Rested" that you will find helpful. Access your free copy by clicking here.
Download the Sleep Cycle app here for iOS and here for Android.
Your mental health, especially during the winter health, deserves care and attention. Sadly, this aspect of one's health is often neglected. One way to give attention to your mental health, especially in relation to how it can affect your sleep quality, is to use a meditation app such as Calm. This app can help you sleep better, boost confidence and reduce stress and anxiety, all with the help of guided meditations, soothing music, and bedtime stories. This should be part of a healthy sleep routine. Calm offers a free 7-day trial.
Download the Calm app here for iOS and here for Android.
MyTherapy is an app designed to aid you in staying in control when it comes to managing the details of your health and wellness, with things such as customized pill reminders, measurement tracking, and health and exercise alerts. Combining a pill tracker, mood tracker, and a health journal, MyTherapy enables you and your doctor to put your treatment’s success into perspective. It is a time commitment, as you'll need to stay on top of tracking your activity, medications, etc. Any time a person is willing to invest time and effort in activities that will improve their life or health, they are more invested and therefore more likely to see success.
Download the MyTherapy app here for iOS and here for Android.
One way to help ensure that you are eating healthy, wholesome meals on a regular basis is to cut down on eating out and cook at home. Based on the result of a short questionnaire about your likes, dislikes, dietary restrictions, etc...this app suggests meals and plans for you, or you can choose to go the more advanced route and build your own plan. Grocery lists are automatically categorized, and any meal/recipe can be tagged as a favorite to save for later. You can even send your customized grocery list to your local grocery store for pick-up or delivery, all from the app.
Download the Mealtime app here for iOS and here for Android.
Elite HRV is a heart rate variability tracking app that provides insights into your health, stress, recovery, and nervous system balance. It offers biofeedback, tracks heart rate variability, and lets you see objectively what your stress level is and how it can improve with interventions: medications, exercise, and even other apps. This information is important, as it is an indicator of the nervous system, stress, or calm. This app itself is free, however, it requires the use of a heart rate monitor that is Bluetooth compatible. Information in the app will describe the specific type of monitor that works with the Elite HRV system. You also have the option of purchasing a CorSense heart rate monitor available through the app for $165.
Download the Elite HRV app here for iOS and here for Android.
Of course, these are just a few of many helpful and carefully designed apps that can help on your journey towards a healthier you. We hope that some of the apps listed above can potentially help you on this journey, or at the least sparked some curiosity to explore creative methods in managing your health and wellness. Subscribe to our blog today for regular alerts that include more helpful tips and information!