You can't pour out of an empty cup.

Balancing the demands of work and life is stressful. And it’s hard to even think about self-care when you’re up against a deadline.

According to Stress.org, in 2019, 94% of American workers reported experiencing stress at their workplace.

But if stress can creep from one part of your life into another, so can positivity.

In fact, Stress.org indicates that self-calming plays an important role in maintaining a healthy mindset in a stressful world.

This week we want to share this article from Teen Vogue to provide you with the best self care tools to live your fullest life, and they cost nothing!

And, believe it or not, while technology can cause stress, it can help resolve it, too.

Interested in learning more?

Check out the three apps below for help reducing stress, improving mood, and building a set of winning habits.

What’s Up

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What’s Up is a free app that uses science-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy, to help you break cycles of negative thinking.

Offering so much more than a digital pep talk, What’s Up includes a habit tracker to monitor good and bad habits, and encourage positive lifestyle changes.

The app also helps put negative feelings and emotions into perspective, making it easier to release anxiety over smaller, day-to-day frustrations.

But What’s Up is focused on empowering users through self-knowledge, too.

And since it can be hard to know what you’re really feeling, the app’s “Get Grounded” and “Thinking Patterns” are designed to help clarify emotions, and the way they impact your life.

Behavioral therapy may seem a bit intimidating to some users. And that’s okay.

If you’d rather start with a platform that offers a dose of relaxing fun, there’s an app for that, as well!

Happify

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This application also works to tackle negative thought patterns and stress, but the approach revolves around positive mood generation.

Happify offers roughly 1,200 different games and activities, organized around “tracks,” intended to address your goals and needs.

Activities include mindfulness, gratitude, strength identification, writing exercises, and more – all designed to help reframe negative thinking using a cute, colorful interface.

And many of the exercises feel like fun, quick games, making Happify a great solution for busy professionals and teams looking to relax without the feeling of a counseling program.  

Each activity contains information about why it works, as well as milestone trackers to help you see how much progress you’ve made on your happiness journey.

Sound fun? Happify is free, so give this app a try today!

Fabulous

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For those looking for a full lifestyle makeover, there’s Fabulous!

Since achievement at work and home is the product of our ongoing habits, Fabulous helps users establish the building blocks of a healthy routine using habit tracking.

But this isn’t your typical, boring habit tracker. Fabulous has a beautiful, stylish interface that makes every challenge feel like a self-care treat. And using brightly colored, animated videos, the app provides inspiring encouragement to tackle new challenges.

From drinking water to restful sleep, Fabulous provides a personalized life coaching system that promotes meditation, exercise, productivity, goal attainment, and more.

While Fabulous costs $12.99 a month, there are discounts for purchasing a full year subscription, as well as a 7-day free trial.

Whichever app you choose, just know that, even on the most stressful day, there are some amazing tools and solutions to help you stay grounded, build good habits, and be at your best.

Now get out there and be amazing!