1. Headspace
$13 A MONTH OR $70 ANNUALLY; BOTH SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS INCLUDE A FREE TRIAL.
The soothing voice you hear leading you through this service’s guided meditations and other calming content is the Buddhist monk who co-founded Headspace 11 years ago. The app boasts over 500 meditations for stress, resilience and more; “sleepcasts” that o er guided exercises and ambient sounds to bring on shut-eye; and a daily inspiration called The Wake Up.
ASSETS: Headspace is well suited for novices tiptoeing into meditation. The 30-day beginner plan offers 10 sessions of about 10 minutes each.
2. Fooducate
FREE, WITH A PRO VERSION FOR $5 A MONTH OR $75 FOR A LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION
For folks trying to eat healthy, this app works as a calorie tracker, telling you what your calorie count should be for the day based on your basic biometrics – height, weight, etc. – and daily activities, while helping you log and track your intake to meet weight loss goals. It can also connect you with a community of users who have similar goals.
ASSETS: The comprehensive database of more than 200,000 food products (just scan in the bar code) offers a nutrition grade (A, B, C, D) and healthy alternatives for each one.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer
FREE, WITH AN EXPANDED VERSION FOR $25
Many people gave up their gym memberships when the pandemic started, finding they could just as easily work out at home. Others are looking for a no-cost way to get started on their own fitness regime. This app targets both kinds of users with 5-to-30-minute home-based workouts that range from cardio to Pilates.
ASSETS: It was developed by a personal trainer who guides you through workouts that are easy enough for beginners to keep up but intense enough to work up a sweat.
4. My Possible Self
FREE
Designed to help reduce anxiety, stress and a depressed mood, this tool allows you to record your emotions and feelings to identify any problems they might cause. It also has interactive mental health resources and techniques using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a treatment widely used for depression and anxiety.
ASSETS: It helps you get to know yourself better (if you’re honest) – not just tracking the activities you enjoy but identifying things that cause you anxiety.
5. SleepScore
FREE, WITH A PREMIUM PLAN OPTION FOR $6 A MONTH OR $50 ANNUALLY
The goal of this app, created by the CPAP manufacturer ResMed, is to help you sleep better. Among its tools are detailed sleep-stage data (duration; light, deep and REM sleep) gathered by your smartphone mic and a smart alarm that wakes you up slowly, minimizing grogginess.
ASSETS: Beyond tracking your sleep patterns, the app is designed to increase awareness of sleep disorders (like sleep apnea) by grading a night’s sleep with an overall score.
