We're always on the lookout for the latest and greatest technological offerings that help in our fight against stress. Though it seems counter-productive, in that some might argue that technology is making us stressed, there will always be brilliant brains to buck the trend and make it work. The right kind of technology can be a help, rather than a hindrance. We've written before about our love for calm.com, and if you haven't tried Headspace yet you've no doubt been residing under a cosy rock (get to it!) but for those who are up on their wellness technology, you'll be looking for 2016's must-try apps.
The right kind of technology can be a help, rather than a hindrance. We've written before about our love for calm.com, and if you haven't tried Headspace yet you've no doubt been residing under a cosy rock (get to it!) but for those who are up on their wellness technology, you'll be looking for 2016's must-try apps.
Here are three cool new advancements in the world of wellness tech.
Night shift
This is a genius move from Apple. They know we're addicted to our phones, especially as we lay in bed, but they also know all of that blue light is bad for us, as it affects our circadian rhythm, which needs to be balanced in order for us to sleep well at night and feel fully awake during the day. Not content with those who suggest we should put the phones away, God no, the creatives at Apple have launched a new feature that makes it feel as though your iPhone is there to look after you.
Advertised
Night Shift is a new feature that's designed to automatically cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS user is exposed to at night by shifting to more yellow tones for the iPhone or iPad's display. Countless studies have blamed our disrupted circadian rhythms on blue light exposure at night. It's a little icon that shows a moon inside a sun. We can't vouch for its effects as we've only just updated our software, but if the studies about blue light are to be believed, this can only be a positive change.
White Noise
If you've grown tired of your usual meditative music routine that usually calms you down when you're feeling stressed, White Noise is a hugely popular new app where you can tailor your sounds to suit your mood. Maybe you're out for a walk and you're looking for something uplifting or perhaps you want something super chilled out as you try to nod off at night, distracting negative thought patterns with soothing sounds. Or maybe you're someone who finds the sound of a didgeridoo relaxing. It's all there.
You can set them to fade subtly in and out according to an alarm set by you, or you can blend them together for a seamless, long-lasting meditative session. What's more, if you like to look at something while you get your own version of headspace, the complementing visuals with this app are hypnotically appealing. Relax Melodies in another app, framed as a natural sleep-aid, that does much the same thing as White Noise, both are new and available on both Android and iOS.
Talkspace
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It was only a matter of time before we would have access to professional talking therapy without having to leave our house, or be anywhere specific at all. Best of all, for those of us who find it helpful to talk to someone other than our friends and family, and preferably someone professional, with an app like this we no longer need to spend a fortune on hard-to-organise, one-hour appointments.
Talkspace aims to make therapy more affordable and accessible for people all over the world. It connects users with licensed professionals for unlimited messaging. Rather than have to wait until your therapist can fit you in, you can send a message for advice the moment you need it. This app proved so popular in 2015, they've now gone and added a couples therapy element to their offering. Welcome to the future, kids.
