Living through Covid-19 has resulted in some pretty big life changes for all of us. When it comes to work, a large amount of us have had to adapt to working from home, which for many businesses, including CloudCall, has become a more permanent feature.
Of course, working from home does have its perks… many of us have said goodbye to commutes and instead have welcomed a better work/life balance. But for many, these changes will have been challenging.
Worldwide, the pandemic has resulted in a roughly 25% increase in anxiety and depression. On top of this, many more have experienced and continue to experience increased social anxiety as they attempt to ‘re-enter’ our now healing society. And if that wasn’t challenging enough, everyone of us is now dealing with the ever present and seemingly out of control cost of living crisis!
It’s no surprise at all that more people ever are living with poor mental health. As a result of both the increase in social anxiety and the cost of living, many people are finding themselves stuck at home, stressing, panicking, doom scrolling on social media, and without the means, time, or funds, to take care of their mental health.
Taking care of ourselves and each other is going to be vital during this time. And thankfully, you no longer have to pay out the big bucks, sit on a never ending waiting list, or even leave the house to get some help and support.
Let’s have a look at some of the options available….
Calm
Reduce anxiety, prioritize self-care and choose a guided meditation session that fits within your busy schedule. Breathing exercises can help you find your peace throughout the day. Practice mindfulness in your daily routine and join the millions experiencing its life-changing benefits. Meditation novice or seasoned expert, Calm is for anyone who is looking to improve their sleep and tackle everyday stress.
Calm is free to download and use in a very limited capacity. To gain full access to the available features, you can access a 7 day free trial, which can you cancel at any time. After that the cost is £28.99 per year.
Download Calm
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/calm/id571800810
Play Store:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_GB
Headspace
Stress less. Sleep soundly. Get happy. Learn meditation and mindfulness in a few minutes a day with Headspace. Choose from hundreds of guided meditations on everything from stress and everyday anxiety management to sleep, personal growth, and mind-body health. Meditate anywhere, anytime — and start living a more calm, healthier, happier life.
Headspace is free to download but requires a paid subscription to use. To gain full access to the available features, you can access a 14 day free trial, which can you cancel at any time. After that the cost is £49.99 per year.
Download Headspace
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/headspace-mindful-meditation/id493145008
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getsomeheadspace.android&hl=en_GB
Evolve
Evolve is an inclusive mental health app providing a safe space to the LGBTQ community, helping you explore and accept your gender identity and sexuality.
Sleep well, deal with depression, overcome anxiety, become more productive, de-stress & improve your mental health to achieve happiness by scientifically proven techniques of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Meditation & Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
Evolve is free to download, and has a lot of features available in the free version of the app. To gain full access to the available features, you can access a 7 day trial, which you can cancel at any time. After that, the cost is £49.99 per year.
Download Evolve
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/evolve-self-care-meditation/id1515433542
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.evolve.android&hl=en_GB
BetterMe: Mental Health
Self-help meditation for people who can’t meditate!
All you need is few minutes a day to bring yourself to a state of calm and wellness, and balance your life using a combination of guided meditations and techniques. BetterMe’s approach is a set of simple, practical relaxation methods for anyone.
BetterMe is free to download, and has a fair amount of feature available in the free version of the app. To gain full access to the available features, you can access a 7 day trial, which you can cancel at any time. After that, the cost if £18.99 per 12 weeks.
Download BetterMe: Mental Health
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/betterme-mental-health/id1363010081
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gen.bettermeditation&hl=en_GB
Balance
Balance is your personal meditation coach. Each day, you’ll answer questions about your meditation experience, goals, and preferences. Using an audio library of thousands of files, Balance assembles a daily meditation that’s perfect for you. The more you share over time, the more personalized and effective your meditations become.
Balance is free to download, and right now, you can access the full range of features for free for a whole year! After that, if you chose to renew, the cost will be £61.99 per year.
Download Balance
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/balance-meditation-sleep/id1361356590
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elevatelabs.geonosis&hl=en_GB
BetterHelp
If you’re looking to speak with an actual therapist without leaving the house or breaking the bank, BetterHelp is the convenient way to get professional help. With over 20,000 trained, experienced, and accredited therapists covering a wide range of areas – from depression and anxiety to family and couples therapy – it’s never been easier to receive personal, professional help when you need it. Features include:
- Match with an available therapist who best fits your needs
- Unlimited private one on one communication with your therapist
- Schedule live sessions with your therapist or use the secure messenger
- Gain access to constructive, educational group webinars
BetterHelp is free to download, and therapy costs between £60 and £90 per week (billed every 4 weeks). Unlike traditional in-office therapy which can cost over £150 for a single session, your BetterHelp membership includes unlimited text, video, audio messaging as well as weekly live sessions. The subscription is billed and renewed every 4 weeks and includes both the use of the secured site and the therapy service itself. You can cancel your membership at any time for any reason.
Top tip! If you’re a podcast listener, many shows are working with BetterHelp to provide discounted therapy for their listeners.
Download BetterHelp
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/betterhelp-therapy/id995252384
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.betterhelp&hl=en_GB
Keep looking!
There are loads more apps available that you can try. And while you’ll probably find that the descriptions are all a little similar, i’d encourage you to not just stick with the first one you download! While the broader services, topics, and techniques may be the same, it’s important to make sure you’re using an app that you can immerse yourself in. So, check out all the different sound, voice, layout, and imagery options before making your mind up!
Podcasts
There are a HUGE amount of podcasts out there now. They’re a fantastic resource when it comes to clearing your mind, and whats more, they’re totally free! Finding the right one for you one that covers mental health related issues can seem a little daunting, but BetterHelp have highlighted a few that might be worth trying out. You can check them out, here.
You might even find that listening to any podcast that covers any topic helps you to relax. I myself enjoy chilling out with one of the many true crime podcasts I subscribe to. So, when you’re ready, dive into that infinite pool of audio-medium goodness and find what works best for you. After all, if a topic exists in life, there’s probably a podcast about it!
For more information about how to look after your mental health, visit:
- https://mhfaengland.org/ (UK)
- https://mhanational.org/ (US)
- https://mhaustralia.org/ (AUS)
