15/08/2017  •  Articles

5 Apps to Help Beat Stress

According to the Health and Safety Executive, stress accounted for 37% of all work related ill health cases, and 45% of all working days lost due to ill health in 2015/16.

Careers in social work and healthcare, while rewarding, can be demanding, stressful, and emotionally draining.  Whilst stress can sometimes help you stay focused and on your toes, increasing demands and long hours can take their toll, raising stress to unhealthy levels.  Once this happens, it can greatly affect your work performance, personal life and/or health. 

Here are 5 great apps for your smartphone or tablet which can help reduce overall stress levels and allow you to regain a sense of control over your working life and your physical and mental health. 

Click the app names to download them to your device! 

GPS for the Soul:
GPS for the Soul is an innovative app developed by the influential Arianna Huffington and Deepak Chopra.  It uses a sensor which measures and determines your level of stress, then offers stress-busting tools such as calming pictures, music and meditation tools.

Personal Zen:
Listed in CNN’s top 10 best brain training apps, Personal Zen is a scientifically-validated app for reducing stress and anxiety.  It features a selection of short games developed with a professor of psychology and neurosciences, based on 20 years of brain training and anxiety-reduction research.  The games boost stress resilience when used over a few days a week

Stress Doctor:
Stress Doctor promises to help alleviate many symptoms of stress including low sleep quality, high blood pressure levels and a weakened immune system, through a cycle of deep breathing exercises.    There is also a heart-rate monitor where you can see the effects of the exercises on your body in real time.

Buddhify:
There is more and more evidence that meditation and mindfulness can reduce stress levels; Buddhify presents you with a colourful and easy-to-use app where you can choose 5 minute meditation sessions from their Buddhist prayer wheel.  These sessions are designed to fit in around your busy work schedule. 

Acupressure: Heal Yourself:
Using the ancient (but still much-used) healing art of acupressure, this app helps you locate the ‘pressure points’, which when pressed correctly, help alleviate specific symptoms of stress.  There is a search function so you can pin-point the exact symptom you are experiencing and then learn which ‘pressure point’ needs to be stimulated to release nerve endings, increase blood flow and ease tension.  

The information in this blog is for general informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised guidance. The author(s) and publisher(s) are not liable for errors or omissions, and reliance on the content is at your own risk.

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