Want to get 'appy? 6 mobile apps you must try!

With millions of apps available to download with the touch of a button, it’s no surprise that there are numerous clever options for giving our minds a helping hand. Want something to help with relaxation? Stress? Focus? Or simply want to keep your brain in tip top condition? Whatever you’re after, it’s out there.

We’ve collated 6 of the best that’ll help you get ‘appy from your head to your heart: 

1. Get happy: Happify

Happify is an app that helps you take control of your emotional wellbeing. Based on years of happiness research, the app has hundreds of games that are designed to put you in a happier frame of mind and ultimately help you to handle stress and boost your self confidence. According to the app’s developers, 85% of users report their happiness score improves after just 2 months.

Available: Apple App Store or Google Play
Cost: Free

2. Stay focused: Forest

Why is it that when you need to concentrate on a task, your mobile phone becomes a tempting distraction? With the app Forest, you can actually use your phone to help you focus. The premise is simple. You ‘plant’ a tree and watch it grow. It will only grow if your phone stays on the app. That means no thumbing through social media feeds or texting, taking away the temptation and freeing up your mind to concentrate on the task at hand. 

Available: Apple App Store or Google Play
Cost: Free on Google Play, $2.99 on the Apple App Store

3. Give thanks: My Gratitude Journal

There’s plenty of research that shows gratitude, or giving thanks, can make you happier. My Gratitude Journal is all about bringing a little gratitude to your daily routine. Every day you’re reminded to write down 5 things you’re grateful for and you can include pictures too. There’s also a nice option to be sent a positive quote after each entry you make. App creator Carla White turned to daily gratitude to help her cope with depression following her father’s passing. After two months of daily gratitude, she found it changed her life in such a drastic way, she created the My Gratitude Journal app so others could benefit from the philosophy.

Available: Apple App Store or download the Zest Gratitude Journal on Google Play
Price: Free (Premium $4.49)

4. Train your brain: Lumosity

There are many brain training apps out there, but Lumosity is considered the ‘original’, and is used by more than 85 million people around the world. The app collaborates with more than 100 researchers globally to provide insights into new study areas of human cognition, ensuring its 50 games are supported by the latest science on brain health. Not convinced? Lumosity’s scientist had 4,715 participants take part in a study, half trained with Lumosity, the others did online crossword puzzles. After 10 weeks, the Lumosity group improved more than the crosswords group on an aggregate assessment of cognition. Why not add some brain training into your exercise routine!

Available: Apple App Store or Google Play
Price: Free (Premium $17.99 per month)

5. Sleep for success: Sleep Cycle 

The importance of a good night’s sleep has been linked to happiness, healthiness and calmness. The Sleep Cycle app is all about making sure you wake up on the right side of the bed, ready and raring to take on the day. The app is basically an intelligent alarm clock that tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up during a light sleep cycle, giving you the feeling of having woken up naturally rested. You may be sceptical, but with an almost perfect review score, it could be what you’re looking for to help you wake up happy.

Available: Apple App Store or Google Play
Price: Free (Premium $2.99)

6. Move your body: Charity Miles 

Exercising and giving - two practices that can instantly lift your mood. The app Charity Miles combines the two by tracking a user’s daily exercise and making donations to their selected charity depending on their distance travelled. Walkers and runners earn 25c per mile; bikers earn 10c per mile. So every time you move your body, your charity of choice could benefit. Win, win!

Available: Apple App Store or Google Play
Price: Free