Our 7 Best Wellness Apps for Elevated Living

“There’s an app for that…” may be the joke of the 21st Century, but let’s be real: it’s basically the truth! There are literally thousands upon thousands of health, fitness, and wellness apps on the market. So how do you go about finding the best wellness apps for you?

Apps are supposed to save time and make your life easier (and healthier!). So wasting time with trial and error is not on my list of top things to do. I know I want to only download (or pay for) the best wellness apps that genuinely impact my life and my health for the better.

So I’m betting you feel the same way.

That’s why I have compiled a list of the 7 best wellness apps that I have on my phone. Every single one is easy to use and actually helpful for leading a happy, healthy, high performance life.

Whether you struggle with getting enough water, waking up at the right time, buying fresh groceries when you’re busy, or even finding motivation to workout – there really is an app for that.

1- Need To Drink More Water? Waterlogged

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + In-App Purchases

How much water have you had today? What about yesterday? A week ago? I bet you’re not entirely sure. We should all be drinking at least half our body weight in ounces of water every day. This is the minimum needed for daily function and wellbeing.

But you already know that you should probably be drinking more water in theory, but two big issues may be stopping you from making that a reality:

• You can’t really keep track of how much water we’ve had throughout the day (AKA: “Well I had a few glasses here and there… mixed in with some coffee and a happy hour cocktail…was that enough for healthy hydration?”)
• You simply forget. Your intentions may be great at the start of the day, but come 5 pm you suddenly realize your water bottle has been sitting on our desk all day without touching it.

Waterlogged steps in to help with both issues. You set a goal, and then the app helps you “crush it” – which is exactly why it is one of the best wellness apps for so many people.

Everyday, you can easily and conveniently track everything you’ve had to drink – whether it was an 8 oz. glass of water, a 500 ml water bottle, or a cup of coffee. Had only 1/3 of a bottle? A quick click of a button helps you log it without any mental math (thank goodness!). Plus, you can easily use liters and ounces back and forth. You can even take a picture of your glass if you don’t want to enter it manually.

Waterlogged lets you take it a step further if you upgrade. You can purchase reminders that keep you on track with your daily goal. This is HUGE for people who simply forget about their water everyday. All that it takes to be told throughout the day to take a sip is $3.99.

One more bonus: You can also integrate your daily hydration into your Fitbit logs.

Waterlogged basically does everything but physically drink the water for you.

2- Want To Feel More Rested and Wake Up with High Energy? Get Sleep Cycle

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + In-App Purchases

On the mornings my alarm would wake me up, I would feel jarred and exhausted getting out of bed. Despite following a focused regimen for waking up early and energized, I would still wake up feeling groggy. Then on the mornings I could wake up on my own time, I felt peaceful and well rested. I used to be so puzzled by that.

But a large part of my difficult mornings was the alarm clock itself.

Since we go through different stages of sleep throughout the night, there are times that are naturally better for waking up and times that are much worse. The Sleep Cycle app figures out where you’re at in your sleep and wakes you up at the optimal time.

Before you go to bed, you will set Sleep Cycle with a 30-minute window of when you’d like to wake up (say, 6:30 – 7:00am). The app will monitor your sleep just using your phone’s microphone and accelerometer to know when you are at your lightest sleep – and then it will wake you gently at precisely that moment.

Sleep Cycle even has an “intelligent snooze” that helps you gently transition from so sleepy to wide awake (are you seeing why this made the cut for the best wellness apps, yet?)

All of these basic functions come free. But if you are someone who struggles with your sleep, you may be interested in upgrading to their premium content, which helps you learn about your long-term sleeping trends like:

• When you snore and how often (you can even listen to recordings!)
• How you sleep depending upon the weather
• Where your heart rate is when you wake up each morning

If you’re worried about radiation from your cell phone – not to worry. You can still use Sleep Cycle when your phone is in airplane mode. And that’s what I recommend when you’re using this app for sleep.

3- Struggling To Find The Time To Buy Your Groceries? Instacart

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + Service charge for each order

What’s the #1 enemy of healthy eating for most individuals and families (especially families!)? Being busy.

Your life is full. We have work and hobbies and family and friends. The kids have sports and music lessons and study groups. The house needs cleaning, and your mom needs a drive to the doctor’s office.

And somewhere in the midst of it all, you’re supposed to grocery shop. As much as it would be fantastic to do a once a month (or even once a week) shopping trip, produce goes bad quickly, the almond milk runs out before you know it, and the organic frozen meat didn’t have time to thaw.

So the easiest thing to do is call in a takeout order or the pizza guy…for the third time this week. Unless, of course, you have one of the best wellness apps on the market.

Instacart kicks that “I’m too busy to buy healthy food” excuse to the curb.

Local stores across the country have teamed up with Instacart so you can find thousands of products you already buy and love at the stores you already shop at. Simply make your order online, and an Instacart shopper will go handpick your items and deliver them right to your doorstep.

Think Instacart is just for Whole Foods? Not anymore. While we do the majority of our Instacart Shopping at Whole Foods, they’ve expanded. Now Instacart shoppers go to Kroger, Publix and even Costco.

What I also love is that they are trained to pick the best produce without bruises or soft spots and choose items with the furthest expiration dates.

Plus, the app offers exclusive coupons and brand suggestions based on the items you purchase.

Your first order has free delivery. After that, the delivery cost depends upon how many items you order and when you want them delivered (busy delivery times cost more than slow times). We use Instacart so much that we invested in their upgraded membership which includes unlimited, free deliveries the entire year.

4- Need To Focus, Relax, or Sleep Better? Brain.FM

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + Subscription Fee

Brain.FM has combined brain science with music to create limitless “audio brain entrainment files” through artificial intelligence that can help you with these five areas:

• Focus
• Relaxation
• Meditation
• Sleep
• Nap

Here’s the deal: I was a tad skeptical about this app when I first heard about it. It’s not that I didn’t believe in the power of music to soothe or energize. But when they claimed their app was “designed for noticeable results within 15 minutes or less,” my confidence wavered.

So I tried it.

Now I get why this is one of the best wellness apps available to just about anyone. Wouldn’t you know I found myself totally focused on my work all morning long when I listened to the focus tracks.

Since we work from home this is a game changer!

I just popped in my headphones and the focus music drowned out the noise of the kids playing downstairs as well as ambient noise, like lawn mowers coming from outside. And the meditation helped me block out noise and get grounded for 15 minutes (they even have guided meditations!).

One of the best parts is the timing feature. For focus, I like to set it on 2 hours. That way when the music is done, I know it is time for me to take a break with the reassurance and confidence that I was extremely productive for a 2-hour period.

The app creators worked alongside neuroscientists to ensure each track influences different parts of your brain – from the “I really need to get work done” part to the “I need all these stresses to melt away” part.

You get 10 sessions of the “focus” section for free – which is plenty to decide whether or not you love it as much as I did. Then you can subscribe:

• $6.95 for monthly access
• $3.99 per month for an entire year commitment
• $149.99 for unlimited access forever

It’s well worth the investment!

5- Looking For Workout Motivation? Google Play Music

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + Premium subscription option

Surprised this one landed on our list of best wellness apps? Don’t be.

Let’s be honest. Most people are not workout machines. We have to be into our workout to actually do our workout. Boredom has killed more workouts than laziness ever will.

In fact, my wife has turned around to go back  home to get her headphones in order to workout. She’s like, “I always get a better workout when I have music.”

If that’s your perspective too, then Google Play Music is a great app to download. You have countless options for exercising to your favorite beats.

In fact, the app has tons of “stations” designed for working out. No doubt you’ll find a style that you like. Options include pop, dance, and rap.  My wife and I love workouts to house music. There are so many different choices that you won’t have a problem finding a workout station you love.

You can even listen to podcasts in their “learning something new category,” which is one of my favorite ways for my brain to “get lost” in an interesting idea. Before I know it I will have killed an intense workout.

Of course, you can also listen to tracks for everything from relaxing, meditating, and sleeping to working, waking up, and having fun in the sun. Google Play Music is a great addition even beyond just working out. You have access to all of your favorite artists and songs for one low monthly fee.

Essentially, you can use it to become the soundtrack for all of your life’s activities.

Like many other music players, you can use Google Play Music for free. But you will get ads and you must be plugged into Wi-Fi or data.

Subscriptions allow you to add songs from your computer, get rid of the ads, and stream from anywhere – even offline. The first 30 days are free, and then you are looking at:

• $9.99 a month for an individual
• $14.99 a month for up to 6 people

6- Want One App That Does Everything? Fitbit App

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + Wearable technology purchase

If one app really ruled all of the best wellness apps, Fitbit would take the cake.

Obviously you are going to need an actual Fitbit for this app to boost your health and wellness game. But while we are talking technology, I think a wearable app is something you should consider too.

Wearable health technology allows you to set goals and then improves your awareness so you can actually meet those goals every. single. day.

The Fitbit app is one of the best wellness apps because Fitbit really is one of the best wellness technologies. When integrated with your Fitbit device, this app allows you to do all sorts of things like:

• Track your steps/distance and calories burned
• Enhance and map runs
• Record your workouts
• Monitor your heart rate
• Log everything you eat from a database of over 350,000 options
• Measure your hydration
• Set goals
• Motivate yourself and others
• Track your sleep

Their notifications will both encourage and “kindly nudge” you to make the right choices throughout the day. And their Fitbit challenges promote competition to keep you motivated.

I love looking back at the maps each time I get outside – even if it was just a fun walk with the kids. And their personal training section has great workouts when I can’t make it to the gym.

The Fitbit app is entirely free. Fitbit products (like their watches, wristbands, clips, and scale) range from $59.95 to $299.95.

7- Looking For Affordable Health and Wellness Products? Thrive Market

Available on iTunes and Google Play: Free + Yearly membership

If Costco and Whole Foods made a love child, it would be Thrive Market.

I value high-quality natural brands that care about the ingredients they include in their products. I value brands that care about animals and the environment during their manufacturing process.

But the truth is – sometimes these very products are the hardest on the wallet. While we have no problem investing into healthy foods and products, it is nice to get a little savings here and there.

Thrive Market is one of the best wellness apps because it makes healthy shopping affordable and convenient at the same exact time.

In fact, you can expect between 25% and 50% off of your favorite wellness groceries, supplements, cleaning products, and bathroom toiletries. Bonus: Free shipping on orders of $49 or more. (That’s why I always wait until I have at least a few items before I make my order.)

This app offers you thousands of organic and non-GMO items. They stock some of my absolute favorite brands like Garden of Life, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Simple Mills and a lot more.

And their convenient filtering system makes discovering the best products for your dietary needs a breeze. Paleo, gluten-free, or vegan? With one click of a button, all your options are sorted for you.

Here’s how it works:

• You buy your yearly Thrive Market membership for $59.95
• Then you have access to their large selection of discounted items
• Shop online
• Receive your healthy items on your doorstep

If you needed one more excuse to give the Thrive Market app a try, know that every time somebody buys a membership, Thrive sponsors a low-income family, a teacher, a veteran, or a first responder.

The Best Wellness Apps For You

And that’s it folks – the 7 best wellness apps that have made it easier for me to be victorious with my own health and wellness goals.

I’m incredibly confident these apps can help you with your health, fitness, and wellness goals too.

Have you tried any of these best wellness apps? Leave a comment below to let me know how they have improved your journey toward a healthy lifestyle. Or do you feel another app should be added to this list of best wellness apps? Share it with me below!

Since writing this article, we formulated our own Superfoods Supplement Line and of course had to include a hydration powder. Check out our Hydration Superfood Energy powder for ultimate hydration, detoxification, and energy. 

Sources:

https://www.fitbit.com/store