Most of the applications require you to input data on how you feel, what you eat, your moods of the moment and other pertinent data. The idea is to use the power of numbers crunching and data analysis to detect patterns in your behavior. Once the parameters are established, the apps can guide you toward smarter choices. A few of them also create networks of people who can reach out and chide you if you fall short of your goals or offer a few words of support that may spur you on.
Here are a few key apps that can help improve your health. As with any tool, how you use it, when you use it and if you use plays a big part in its efficacy, and no claims are made as to whether any of these will really improve your life. But certainly it can’t hurt and might help to explore a few of them and see if they can lead you down the path to the perfect existence.
1) PaperKarma – Junk mail is the bane of human existence, and the stress of dealing with it is sometimes more than certain people can handle. With this app, you merely take a picture of a piece of junk mail with your name and the business, and the app will reach out and get you permanently unsubscribed. This is a free app.
2) Stress Check Pro – This app measures your heart rate through the camera and light features of an iPhone. You cover the camera lens with the soft part of your fingertip, and the phone will analyze the variations in your heartbeat. The more it’s used, the better you can monitor your stress levels. While the Stress Check Pro doesn’t offer a solution to the stress, it can help you identify triggers and take steps to avoid things that trigger anxiety.
3) Breathe2Relax – Breathing is essential to life, and the right breathing techniques can reduce stress and stop those flight-or-fight reactions. The app will measure your breathing rate via a survey, then uses graphics and text to offer instructions on letting go of the stress.