Helpful Apps

I decided to start this thread after realizing how many incredibly helpful apps there are out there.

Cyan started this one for the Insight Timer app which has become part of my daily life in one way or another.

I recently came across Track Your Happiness . At random times of the day, you receive alerts and are asked to take a mental snapshot of the moment and then answer a few questions. The goal is that you get an idea of your over-all happiness in different situations at different times so you can see the bigger picture and make changes as needed.

Please add your own apps here and tell us a little about them.

[EDIT: Sticky-ed 20151119]

This is sort of similar to yours Reliah, but I would like to add MoodTools .

When you feel like you're having a negative mood, you can go to the app and record your thoughts... you record what moods you're feeling, then you describe the situation, then any negative thoughts, then you write a challenge (for and against the situation, challenge your negativity), then how you feel differently.

The app is geared towards those who are in down or depressive moods.

I'm sure many people have heard of it, but lumosity is a great brain trainer. It is really fun, but challenging and rewarding.

This is the Apple version, and this is the Android version.

If you have a windows phone, upon searching it will bring you to a very similar app.

One that I'm using right now is called Freedom . It allows you to block certain distracting websites, or even the entire internet altogether for a set period of time that you determine, since I realized I have an impulse control problem with net addiction. The advantage to me in this app over one I previously mentioned (SelfControl), is that as long as you're using the free app and not subscribing, you can disable the app and get the internet back, which means that it can serve as a reminder that you're not supposed to be 'netting at the time, rather than acting as a nanny that refuses to let you use it; this means you actually get to train your mind to learn true self control, and the discipline that it requires.

Competent wrote: I'm sure many people have heard of it, but lumosity is a great brain trainer. It is really fun, but challenging and rewarding.

I was really interested in lumosity, did a bit of reading and it looks like it doesn't really improve cognitive development. I was really disappointed, but when you think something is too good to be true.... it usually is.

CryojenX wrote: One that I'm using right now is called Freedom. It allows you to block certain distracting websites, or even the entire internet altogether for a set period of time that you determine, since I realized I have an impulse control problem with net addiction.

I'm right there with you on habitually checking my phone. I will probably look into that freedom app once I start the meditation training in the IP.

Do Lumosity if it is fun for you, but don't expect it to really improve brain functionality.
Instead, read a good book or learn a new language. MUCH more useful.

What's Up is good.

Thank you all for your participation and suggestions.

I realized I have another one I forgot to mention. It's a Daily Challenge app - or you can use the website. You can pick a "track" specific to what you want to accomplish - such as being more active, choosing healthier snacks, organizing your home and life, etc. Every day you will be given a goal to accomplish in the track you have chosen.

Great idea!

I personally use, and love:

Headspace
It is a guided meditation app, with a new unique one each day. It has focused meditations for different moods and topics, and the creator is a former Monk. His TED talk is amazing.

MyFitnessPal
Probably redundant posting this as many people have heard of it, but it really helps me track my calories and carbs for Keto.

C25K - 5K Running Trainer
Guides you through customized audio through the Couch to 5k running course. Use it 3 times a week!

Water Your Body
Tracks daily water / liquid intake, love it.

Alan Watts - Out of the Trap

Has anyone had a chance to try that one out yet? I haven't, but it has really good reviews.
Haven't been able to find it for android, though.

I ran across this beautiful meditation app for children and had to pass it along.

Well, I have a few to add to the list.

Colorfy allows me to color while using my phone. Great for me when I'm on a ten minute break, need something productive to do to unwind for a minute, and don't have to carry around a coloring book, plus all of the pencils.

Diaro is essentially my personal journal. I think if you upgrade to a certain level, your phone can also sync to Diaro online. It's got a tagging system, search options, and other things that I really use when I'm trying to remember when X happened, or when Y happened, so that way I know what I did to get through those times.

My Spirit Tools I've only tinkered a bit with this, as whenever I want to do something spiritual often takes up a bit more free time than what I have. I've used the Shaman's Journey exercise, but would love to dig in a bit deeper on this.

Not an app, a webpage, but very useful I think when you get anxious or stressed

Breathe Slowly

Cayce wrote: Great idea!

I personally use, and love:

Headspace
It is a guided meditation app, with a new unique one each day. It has focused meditations for different moods and topics, and the creator is a former Monk. His TED talk is amazing.

MyFitnessPal
Probably redundant posting this as many people have heard of it, but it really helps me track my calories and carbs for Keto.

C25K - 5K Running Trainer
Guides you through customized audio through the Couch to 5k running course. Use it 3 times a week!

Water Your Body
Tracks daily water / liquid intake, love it.

Yes Headspace is a great app. I myself really need to use it more.

Something that has helped me over the past few months is my Fitbit and the app that goes along with it. You can set up personal goals and earn "badges" overtime. It has been a great tool.

Reliah wrote: I decided to start this thread after realizing how many incredibly helpful apps there are out there.

Thank you for creating this thread. Several of the Apps have been a huge help at bettering myself in several ways.

"ZenFriend" and "Yoga"/"TrackYoga" (from Eternal Karma Inc.) are the best free android apps in such niche, IMO. ZenFriend has normal standalone meditation timer and TrackYoga has normal list+description of asanas. For now, that's all I need.

If you're a runner like me, you'll love Zombies, Run! I'm training for a 5k with the version that costs $1.99, but there's a free version as well. I love it because it gives you a story line (you go from place to place collecting certain story elements) and lets you listen to your own music while things unfold. It's really quite brilliant. You find yourself looking forward to running every day because of the story

I also love Pocket Penguins which is really just a cam pointed at the penguin exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences. It is very settling to know that no matter what you're up to, these birds are just chillin and having a good time. How can you be having a bad day when that one penguin on the rock over there keeps floofing his chest feathers? Exactly.

I'd like to add Fabulous to the list here.

It's a motivational tool and as someone who really struggles some days to do even some simple things, I'm finding this app very helpful.

calm.com looks super to create a virtual mediatation pod at job

Cayce wrote: Great idea!

I personally use, and love:

Headspace
It is a guided meditation app, with a new unique one each day. It has focused meditations for different moods and topics, and the creator is a former Monk. His TED talk is amazing.

MyFitnessPal
Probably redundant posting this as many people have heard of it, but it really helps me track my calories and carbs for Keto.

C25K - 5K Running Trainer
Guides you through customized audio through the Couch to 5k running course. Use it 3 times a week!

Water Your Body
Tracks daily water / liquid intake, love it.

Headspace is handsdown the best guided meditation / meditation intro app on the market. And I'd like to echo that his TED talk, as well as his book, are excellent material.

Headspace has a cost associated with it. IMHO it's well worth it, particularly if you do not have background in meditation.

Insight Timer has been taken over by new developers and is an excellent meditation timer. It also has guided meditations.

If you're willing to throw down on an EEG, Muse is one of the better (yet not crazy expensive) headbands that you can wear that have apps that assist with meditation. It reads brain waves in real time and gives immediate feedback when your mind gets chatty and starts to wander. To be clear, the Muse is primarily for focus based meditation, as opposed to insight based (which is more what Headspace focuses on).