LIFE HACK
Slow down your hectic day
It’s easy to start panicking as you look at your packed agenda. But before getting bogged down by anxiety, team up with these powerful apps to insert pockets of peace in your day. While they’re not going to finish that urgent report or take the kids to school for you, they’ll empower you to meet your hectic day head-on.
Start with a good night’s sleep
When a demanding day lies ahead of you, getting good sleep the night before is key to conquering your workload. Using your iPhone’s microphone to analyse the noise you make during the night, Sleep Analysis - Sleeptic is able to track your bedtime patterns with detailed statistics, like the time you fall asleep, the sleep quality and even how efficiently you sleep. Just set the time you want to wake up at, the alarm for every specific day, and the amount of hours you plan to rest. In no time, you’ll understand your sleep patterns and wake up better rested.
Take a deep breath
It won’t take long before your work starts piling up. Before you start feeling overwhelmed, just... breathe. That might sound easier said than done, but with MellowMe, it really is that easy. Whether it’s the 4 seconds breathing technique or the 4-7-8 exercise, the simple breathing techniques will help you inhale and exhale your way to a relaxed state. Don’t forget to check out the relaxation and focus sessions; these breaks come in handy to help you disconnect from stress and recharge for the rest of the day.
Manage your emotions
Unexpected extra pressure can pop up any time in the form of an urgent deadline or a last-minute request from your boss. Learning to respond in a controlled manner to those anxious moments, instead of reacting hastily, is a superpower that will take you further. With Calm’s guided meditations that range from helping you build better focus to boosting happiness, you can build up that mental resilience to help you face those difficult moments. You’ve got it all under control.
Tune into your moods
If meditation is not your thing, you can lighten up a little by channelling your emotions into a creative outlet. Cove lets you express your feelings through crafting musical patterns that match your moods, which you can then save in a personal journal and share with the ones you trust. Not into creating your own mood music? The sound landscapes from Music Zen - Relaxing Sounds are a great option to take your stress levels down a notch. From the sights and sounds of hot springs to Japanese gardens, you can add a little harmony to your day.
Have fun
Sometimes you just need to enjoy the simple things to release your mind from a frenetic day. And there’s nothing quite like the soothing satisfaction of connecting dots of the same colour and clearing them. With a mesmerising soundtrack and simple gameplay, Two Dots is the perfect interlude for restoring calm, whenever needed.