By next year, the wellness and fitness industry in the UK is likely to top £22.8 billion.
Sports equipment, alternative medicine and gym memberships have risen in popularity in recent years and so has the creation of apps for smartphones that’ll help you achieve your goal. Examples include the NHS’s calorie checker and apps to help you quit smoking, such as Smokefree. However, data shows that approximately 29% of the British population in 2018 made a commitment to lose weight — and over half giving up in just a month. So, what can we download in 2020 to ensure are well-being is looked after?
7 Cups
Of course, our focus shouldn’t just be on our physical well-being. Mental health has, rightly so, become a major topic of interest. Campaigns such as ‘It’s Okay Not to Be Okay’ are bringing our mental well-being into the forefront of the attention via the media. However, in the UK, approximately one in four of us will experience a mental health problem each year. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common issues. This American-based app helps anyone who feels isolated discuss their concerns and issues thanks to it connecting you instantaneously to one of its 160,000 trained volunteer listeners and licensed therapists. It’s anonymous, free, and confidential. It also allows you to participate in guides chats through group support discussion rooms.
Couch to 5k
When it comes to training apps, Couch to 5k may well be the best known. When we attempt a new fitness regime, supplements such as vitamin D3 and magnesium supplements often make their way onto our shopping list. However, when it comes to exercise, nearly everyone who has wanted to improve their health and fitness has heard of the couch to 5k challenge. It’s ideal for those who don’t particularly have the fitness levels to take on marathons but want to increase their physical ability. Presented by Public Health England, it builds you up gradually with a mix of running and walking so that within nine weeks you should be able to run 5 kilometres (3.1 miles). There’s also a choice of five virtual trainers to help you on your fitness journey and keep you motivated.
Pokémon Go
While people will class Pokémon as primarily a ‘game’, this app is also useful for making people more active. The popular game works by individuals needing to be active in the community to progress in the game. According to Sport England, one in three kids in England take part in less than 30 minutes of physical activity each day. This was described by Sports Minister Mims Davies as ‘simply unacceptable’. With games like Pokémon Master, this is a great way to get kids active and taking part in an activity they’d enjoy. It was even found that the original Pokémon Go was also helping to bring families together as parents and children were competing with one another as to who could catch the rare monsters.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
This is another ‘game’ app and works the same way that Pokémon Go does by helping people become more active. For those who aren’t particularly a fan of the Pokémon franchise, this take based on JK Rowling’s creation could be just the thing. It works by users having to complete a certain number of steps in order to open up treasure chests for more loot. Also, as magical creatures and characters spawn on the map in-game, you need to physically travel to move your character across the map. However, unlike the Pokémon take, this game will be able to track your activity without even running the app. Therefore, you’ll be able to track your steps without being synced to the game, and those who like to wear a Fitbit will more than likely agree that this can become a game in itself!
Esquared
If you like the thought of attending a gym but don’t appreciate the lengthy memberships, download Esquared. This app works in the same way as Uber in the sense that it allows you to find gym sessions and one-off classes in your area. The benefit of this app is that it’s non-committal and there are no subscription fees. Currently, it’s only available in London and Sydney, but keep an eye out in case it expands into an area near you!
Babylon: GP at Hand
Using this NHS app allows you to have the chance to speak with an NHS GP 24/7 via a video appointment. Usually, you’ll be seen within two hours once you make your request, meaning that you no longer have to wait weeks for an appointment or attend a walk-in surgery. It allows the doctor to discuss your symptoms and, where necessary, you can show them your issues on camera.
2020 is fast approaching. Be sure to use your smartphone for aspects of your life other than just texting, scrolling through social media, and making phone calls. They hold so much more value to everyday life, and with these five apps — as well as the many more available via app stores — you can take steps to reach your goals and improving your quality of life.