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You can use your phone to do almost anything these days—including staying healthy.
There are apps to help you start and keep up healthy habits, like exercising and eating a balanced diet. Other apps are intended to assist with avoiding or quitting unhealthy habits, like smoking or using other drugs.
Here’s just a sample of the health-oriented apps and online programs out there. All of these are free.
Reducing stress
- Breathe2Relax—The U.S. military designed this app, which offers breathing exercises that have been shown to reduce stress and help with managing anger and anxiety.
Smoking and vaping
- quitSTART—This app from Smokefree.gov helps people who smoke get ready to quit, monitor their progress, and get back on track if they slip and smoke.
- This Is Quitting—The Truth Initiative’s text messaging program helps young people (ages 13 to 24) quit vaping. The program is tailored based on age.
Bullying
- KnowBullying—This one, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has resources for parents and caregivers who want to help build their children’s confidence and discuss effective strategies for facing bullying.
Children of parents who have substance use problems
- Alateen—This is a free program that offers support for teens (ages 13 to 18) in this situation. They can register to participate in regular Alateen chats. In these chats, they can share their experiences and their hope, discuss difficulties, encourage one another, and learn effective ways to cope with problems.