Updated October 2024
More young people are feeling anxiety than ever before. If you’ve really struggled with exams, or you’re just not feeling motivated about your future and next steps in life, you’re honestly not alone. Sometimes you don’t have to make big decisions. You can just do something small every day to help you feel like you are doing, rather than not doing – because doing is growing, in a safe way at your own pace.
Here are 5 FREE mental health, wellbeing and meditation apps that could help you express and understand your emotions.
1. MyPossibleSelf
MyPossibleSelf has interactive tools, helpful tips, and engaging activities to help you take care of your mental health. There are lots of meditation activities to help boost your mood and clear your busy mind, and interactive content to help you explore things that can influence your mental health.
Available for: iOS/Android
Price: Free!
2. Moodnotes
Do you ever have a bad day and not know why you felt that way? Moodnotes can help you track your feelings throughout the day and identify the hidden emotions such as jealously or excitement that you may not have noticed. You can also track how intense these feelings are and explore what made your mood change.
By tracking your mood each day, you can learn to avoid pitfalls and ‘thinking traps’ and discover how to look at things with new perspectives with quick insights.
Available for: iOS/Android
Price: Free! In-app purchases available.
3. Daylio
Daylio lets you have a private journal on your phone without having to write anything! Daylio is a more minimalistic mood tracking app where you can explore what influences your mood by selecting how you feel and the activities you did that day. If you want a simpler way to track your mood, Daylio could be helpful!
Available for: iOS/Android
Price: Free! In-app purchases available.
4. 5 Minute Journal
5 Minute Journal can help you have a more positive outlook on life through guided gratitude journaling. By exploring what you are grateful for and what you can do to make each day a great day, you can start your morning in a positive way and learn to notice the wonderful things that go on around you!
You can set reminders to stay on track, complete weekly challenges and read inspiring daily quotes to live by.
Available for: iOS/Android
Price: Free! In-app purchases available.
5. Finch: Self Care Widget Pet
If you find self-care activities like meditation or journaling a chore, then try making self-care more fun with a Finch Widget Pet! You can choose from a wide variety of personalised self-care exercises and take care of your pet by taking care of yourself.
Set goals, check in with your pet and complete quick activities to earn rewards, grow your pet and improve your mental health too! If you check in with your pet in the morning, you can set them off on an adventure, and check in with them in the evening to hear all about their day of exploring.
Available for: iOS/Android
Price: Free! In-app purchases available.
If you are ever going through a difficult time, feeling anxious or uncertain is a perfectly reasonable response to what is happening. Keep in mind that getting results out of self-care can take time, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t feel different straight away. Every small step you take is still a step forward!
If you’re worried about how your mental health will affect (or has affected) your work, remember that employers understand some of the pressures you might be facing and will place a lot of emphasis on your ability and potential rather than your experience! And don’t forget: by keeping yourself moving forwards, you are showing just how resilient you are – this is a very powerful strength that will be important in life.
More Mental Health Advice
