The 21st century lifestyle does not leave us time for thinking about ourselves, let alone self-care. We often rely on digital apps like calendars, mailboxes and alarms to help us keep track of tasks to get through the day, be it remembering birthdays, scheduling meetings, or getting that assignment done before the deadline. And while we make sure we’re always in time with the “important” things, self-care, unfortunately, takes the back seat. Not to worry though, the apps have you covered here, too.
Why Self-Care is Important
Self-care involves activities that promote physical, mental and social well-being. Any activity that helps you take care of your own health, from sleeping on time to journalling, joining a zumba class or going on walks, eating healthy and meditating, falls within the ambit of self-care. Research shows that engaging in regular self-care reduces stress levels, helps you manage emotions better, keeps you physically fit, improves cognitive functioning and productivity, and boosts self-esteem and happiness.
In the 21st century, social, economic, technological and cultural factors shape modern life in a way that makes it difficult to prioritise well-being. Who has the time to be mindful when inflation is through the roof? While the Internet helps keep us connected to the world 24/7, with any information available with just a click, constant exposure to news, social media posts, and online debates contributes to stress, anxiety, and isolation. We’re all a part of the “rat race” where the only choices are to hustle or be left behind, and productivity and efficiency are emphasised to the extent that the workplace burnout syndrome has become one of the most glaring mental health problems among employees.
While modern life is good at offering easy solutions to complex problems, carving out time for oneself seems a nearly impossible thing to do.
AI and Personal Wellness
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has permeated into nearly every sphere of life, and personal wellness is no exception. Mental health apps powered by AI use generative learning and large language models (LLMs) to provide mental health support to users. Personalisation is a strength of AI, thanks to which mental health chatbots can automate, customise, and tailor strategies best suited the unique needs of a user.
- Health and Wellness, Just For You! Mental Health chatbots have the ability to analyse user data (e.g., hours of sleep and exercise, diet patterns, etc), highlight problematic habits and provide accessible solutions. For instance, apps like Fitbit use AI to create customised exercise routines, diet suggestions and lifestyle changes according to user goals and needs.
- Mental Health Matters Chatbots offer a safe space for individuals to talk about their mental health struggles and problems. In return, they provide effective strategies and coping mechanisms to deal with negative emotions, stress, anxiety and interpersonal issues. Making Mindfulness Easy Meditation can be hard for beginners, but these apps are here to help. Apps like Headspace create meditation sessions based on the user’s current mood and stress levels.
- Sleep and Nutrition AI algorithms can be used to track sleep patterns, including disturbances and the length of each cycle, and provide feedback on how sleep can be improved. Meal plans based on the user's dietary preferences, health concerns and goals can be curated to promote healthier eating habits.
- Get Fit Centr and JEFIT help users plant their workouts and provide virtual incentives to commit to exercise routines. They can also provide real-time feedback about posture, form and physiological vitals during exercise, thereby reducing the risk of injury.
- Making Good Habits Self-care habits can be difficult to start and even more difficult to maintain. AI apps can help users built good habits by setting smart reminders and tracking progress, offering encouragement and keeping users engaged in forming and maintaining habits. For habits that are hard to form, apps can suggest tailored strategies to overcome these obstacles.
Self-Care with Healo
Healo is an AI-driven mental health AI Assistant that specialises in holding your hand and guiding you through your self-care journey. When you’re in need of a listening ear, Healo provides an empathetic, judgement-free space to talk about your emotional struggles and baggage. It asks the right questions and gives you what you need, depending on whether you’re looking for personalised, step-by-step solutions to a problem or just a space to vent. Solutions are personal, designed to address your needs and goals at a particular point in time.
Its collection of self-care cards are just the pick-me-up you need after a hard day, and you can shuffle along to see a card that speaks the most to you at the moment.
Self-care can be hard to make time for, but mental health AI apps are here to help! Self-care is, in this day and age, a luxury – but it should not be. By incorporating self-care practices with the help of AI into daily routines, individuals can experience significant improvements in their quality of life, reduced stress, and greater happiness.
