Technology can sometimes make people less active. It’s not good for your health if you are sitting around all day scrolling on your phone or playing games.

But the good news is that it can also do the opposite, and help you find ways to stay healthy.

There are a lot of apps and websites out there which can help you to stay physically and mentally well. Sometimes they are even included with your phone – have you looked to see what you might already have available?

Remember, there is one thing to beware of – always double check to see if the app you want to try has a cost or in-app purchases. Often they will be free for a short period of time or have a free version which gives you just the basic features, before asking you to pay. Don’t get caught out!

Your Own Music

The chances are you already have something that can help on your phone, probably without even realising it.

A lot of us use our phones to listen to music. You might have your favourite songs stored on your phone, or use a streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music. Or you could watch music videos through YouTube.

Music is great to get you energised. Why not create your own playlist for when you are exercising?

Screen Time

Feel like you are spending too much time on your phone or computer, but find it hard to step away?

There are apps that can help you manage how much time you spend online or on particular apps or sites. You set your own limits, then the app warns you when you hit them. It’s so easy to lose track of time when online, so here is the perfect reminder when it’s time to put down the phone and find something else to do. You could even get your friends involved so they can do it too and you can support each other.

Healthy Eating

If you’re looking for some help to eat more healthily, there are apps that can suggest healthy foods you could try or recipes to make.

Or you could go a step further and get an app to keep a food diary, so you can see all the things you have eaten, and the impact it has on how you feel physically and mentally.

Relaxation

Some apps offer you a range of mindfulness and relaxation sessions. They are designed to help you manage stress, anxiety and stay calm.

The apps talk you through how to do each exercise, so you can do them confidently, and get your body to relax properly.

Track Your Fitness

There are lots of fitness apps out there. Some help you keep track of how much exercise you have done. Others let you compare your exercise with your friends or share what you have done with them.

You can even get apps which stand in for a personal fitness trainer, suggesting different exercises for you to do.

Keep Your Brain Sharp

Brain training is a great way to give your mind a mental workout. Try quizzes or brain games to keep you sharp, and get your mind thinking in a different way.

Sleep

Believe it or not, there are even apps which can help track how well you have slept at night. They’ll also measure your heart rate as you snooze. It’ll help you look at when you sleep best, and maybe even identify patterns of bad sleep and what might be causing them.