Whatever your needs are, there is an app for that. And thanks to the world being shaken by Covid-19, new demands have started to rise amongst us. From keeping ourselves mentally sane during these crazy times to keeping track of covid news and the spread of it.
People fortunately have been quick with developing various apps to address those needs. These newer apps is what I’ll be focusing on and sharing with you. After all, I don’t think you’ll need me to tell you about apps like Skype or Zoom.
Realize that many of these apps may depend on your country.
NHS App
Right now, this is perhaps one of the most important apps to have. On top of being able to view your own medical records and book a GP appointment, you’ll also be able to look up trusted sources of information and tips for what to do if you think you have Covid-19 symptoms.
You also get immediate medical advice and help as well. It’s an incredible app that serves multiple functions. The only catch to this is that you need to be at least 13 and registered with a GP surgery in England to use it.
Covid-19 Tracker
As the name suggests, you’re able to self-report symptoms using this app and thus reduce the rate of infecting other people. If you’re ever tested positive, this app will alert your contacts so they’re able to seek medical care to slow the spread.
How the app goes about this is by dividing a user into three categories:
- Those who haven’t tested positive and are asymptomatic.
- Users not tested but have symptoms.
- Those who have self reported and have tested positive.
They also have color codes for each of those three: dark green, yellow, and pink respectively.
You’re able to update your information as the symptoms change and the colors will change respectively on the app’s map. Through all of this information, you’ll be able to keep up-to-date with news around the virus and the world and engage with real-time conversations with others.
Covid Symptom Tracker
Designed by doctors and scientists at King’s College London, Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals and Zoe Global Limited, this another app you may not want to miss out on. As the name implies, this allows you to track symptoms.
The sooner you notice symptoms and identify them, the slower the spread can occur. This happens through the app providing data but also sharing instructions to people to do self-reporting. The self-reporting process takes only a minute of your time and they urge people to use it daily.
Through this, researches are able to identify how quickly the virus is spreading to other areas and also who is at risk. Naturally this focuses more on the UK but it’s still a good app for others outside of that to track symptoms.
Marquee TV
If you’re a fan of the arts, this app is for you. It’s one that offers contemporary and classical performing arts and other cultural programmes. From opera to dance, theater, documentaries and concerts.
If you have a love for the arts or want to break up movie night with a play or something, this is a nice app.
Youper
One thing that has sprung up recently is emotional health assistance apps. Because we’re battling loneliness or sheer boredom, we can find ourselves in depressing situations. Paired with everything that’s happening, you need something to keep you sane.
Youper is an app that uses AI technology to reduce anxiety, manage mood and even improve sleep. The strategies is uses is a range of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness. These methods show that the app wants to help people understand their emotions and improve the relationships they have in life.
All that you do through this app is have a digital conversation with the app, listen to its practices and sleep sounds. After that you monitor your emotions through the in-app mood tracker while also learning more about anxiety and depression. You can even take a personality test to help you understand yourself better.
Trace Together
A new and free app to consider for Covid-19 is Trace Together. Developed in Singapore, it works via Bluetooth and aims to lower the curve of cases through community-driven contact tracing. How it does contact tracing is through the Bluetooth signals which allows the app to figure out if you are near another user of the app.
In the even that if you or the other have been in close contact with someone who does have the virus, the app allows the Ministry of Health to contact you and provide advice on what to do.
Headspace
For moments of solace, there are all kinds of mindful apps out there. The one I want to cover is Headspace as it provides a different approach than others. This app will help you with sleeping and soothing your mind like any other mindful app would.
But what’s great about this is the fact there are hundreds of guided meditations to help with all kinds of issues you may have. There are even ‘SOS’ sessions for moments where you are in panic or stressed out. That mode provides animations to teach new skills and a move mode to facilitate mindful cardio. There’s even workouts you can use to help with sleeping.
It’s all insightful and helpful. Especially as the one teaching you was a former monk and expert on mindfulness.
Daylio
The final app to suggest is Daylio. It’s an app that’s recommended by therapists and counselors. And for good reason. Daylio allows its users to keep a private journal – for free – and monitors daily mood and activities. From that information, the app will asses what if there is a cause and effect to your actions and your overall mood.
Through the app, you can:
- Add notes to each entry.
- Use emojis to help communicate your moods every day.
- Set reminders to record your entries.
- Select various colors to help reflect your moods.
- Create goals to build new habits
- Ensure your entries are safe by enabling PIN lock
This is an app to help you get into journalling and also improve your mindset. You can also use it as a self-diagnosis as you can see what activities prompt certain emotions over the course of the day. You can also track these for several days, weeks, or even months.
Stay Sane, Stay Safe
I highly recommend picking up and trying some of these apps out. While some do have some regions they prefer over others, they can still be used to some extent by others. Don’t pass them up and stay in the loop of what’s going on in the world. Not to mention staying sane and calm among all that’s happening.