Mindshift

MindShift is an app designed to offer practical support in relation to feelings of anxiety. Rather than suggesting that you avoid situations that create anxiety, the app guides you towards opportunities to face them in a constructive way.

• Variety of anxiety management strategies
• Customisable
• Compatible with iOS Text To Speech

Help & how to get started:

• Mindshift can be downloaded from the MindShift web page.

More useful videos:

• Mindshift (Pt. 1): How can Mindshift help me feel less stressed or anxious?
• Mindshift (Pt. 2): ‘Learning Tools’ and ‘Thought Journal’
• Mindshift (Pt. 3): ‘Coping Cards’ and ‘Belief Experiments’
• Mindshift (Pt. 4): 'The Chill Zone' and 'Fear Ladders'
• Mindshift (Pt. 5): ‘Comfort Zone Challenges’, ‘Healthy Habits’, and ‘Goals’

Habitica

Habitica is designed to work like a video game that helps the user to develop good habits and boost productivity - the tag line is "Motivate yourself to do anything". Tasks become little monsters that you have to overcome, allowing you to progress in the game. 

Help & how to get started:

• Habitica can be accessed from the App Store (iOS) or the Play Store.

Stay Focused

Stay Focused is a self-control android app that enables you to block distracting applications temporarily on your device so that you can stay focused. The blocker app can be set to activate for a precise time and date, and once the pre-set time duration is over, the blocked apps can be used again. 

Help & how to get started:

• Stay Focused can be access as a Google Chrome Extension or downloaded on Google Play (Android).

Catch It

Catch It is an NHS-approved app that helps when dealing with feelings such as anxiety or depression. It uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to turn negative thoughts into positive ones by recording and rating your mood, reflecting and thinking about better ways to deal with problems. 

Help & how to get started:

• Catch It can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or the Play Store.

Workrave

Workrave makes sure you are taking regular breaks when studying by sending notifications when you’re due a break away from your desk. It allows you to set up custom time periods for your study time and breaks, view statistics on your computer usage and gives you exercises you can do whilst on a rest break. 

Help & how to get started:

• Workrave can be accessed from the Workrave website.

MyNoise

The idea behind myNoise is to use noises that you enjoy most to mask the noises that you don’t want to hear—like chatty colleagues at your office, for example, or your tinnitus. The concept is simple, works extremely well, and doesn’t require expensive, active noise cancelling headphones either. All you need are regular headphones. myNoise soundtracks can be used to focus at work, relax at home, or even sleep at night.

Help & how to get started:

• myNoise can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or Play Store.

Focusmate

Focusmate connects you with other people around the globe to work together. You choose a time to work, and Focusmate will pair you up with a partner for a virtual coworking session, helping you to keep on task. This minimises procrastination and promotes accountability through shared productivity.

Help & how to get started:

• Focusmate can be accessed from the Focusmate website.

Forest

Forest is a Procrastination tool that helps you stay away from your phone and distracting websites by blocking you from accessing them. It uses a Pomodoro technique of breaking work down into 25 minutes of study and then 5 minutes of rest. During this time, a tree will begin to grow, but if you leave the app, the tree will die. The idea is to grow a whole virtual Forest and in real life, Forest have planted over 1 million trees.

Help & how to get started:

• Forest can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or the Play Store.