The snap lockdown currently in place here in Townsville and Magnetic Island has no doubt disrupted your healthy habits. You could give in to binging Netflix and popping Maltesers BUT before you reach for the fridge, try reach for technology instead. Here’s a few useful apps below that can help you keep active, maintain nutrition, stay motivated and optimise your mental health.
1. Interval Timer by Float Tech, LLC
A interval timer seems obvious, but one of the biggest barriers to exercise is organisation. Deciding which exercise you will do, how many sets/reps. This interval timer makes it simple. Just input how long you want the interval to last, how long you want to rest between each interval, the number of exercises and how many rounds you want to complete. The audio will tell you when to start, when you’re half way and when to rest. You can use it for any scenario from strength training to running intervals and stretching timer. The best part is you can listen your music while the app is running so just set it and turn up the beats!
Find Interval Timer on Apple Store
MyNetDiary
2. MyNetDiary PRO Calorie Counter by MyNetDiary Inc.
When it comes to nutrition, the digital world is overrun by weight loss fads and calorie counters. MyNetDiary PRO Calorie Counter gives you confidence that the content is accurate and most importantly Australian. Just scan the barcode and enter your portion size. Add other foods such as vegetables and fruit manually.
The app displays the macronutrients of each meal (e.g. carbs, protein and fat etc) in a simple easy to understand diagram and gives suggestions for recipes. Importantly the app includes motivational components, such as points, levels, feedback, rewards and challenges, which are more likely to lead to positive changes in behaviour and have you nailing your nutrition.
Visit My Net Diary for more info
3. Way of Life Habit Tracker by Way of Life ApS
We’ve all said it when we’re trying to exercise and eat healthy, “I just need to get into a habit”. Monitoring yourself is one way that is known to build motivation and change behaviours. But it is often time consuming and inconvenient.
The Way of Life app is easy and intuitive. Simply add in the habits you want to track (e.g exercise, meditating, drinking water, no alcohol, 3 cigarettes per day) and log each time you complete the habit. Add notes to each log so you can see ups and downs in your behaviour. The green/red colour coding gives you feedback on how you’re progressing. You can set targets for yourself and reminders that prompt you to complete your habit. As the developer says, “changing habits is hard work. Having the right tool is half the battle!”
Visit Way of Life Habit Tracker for more info
Headspace
4. Headspace by Headspace Inc
We know that working on our mental health is something we should do everyday. The anxiety and stress of isolation and lockdown makes it even more pertinent that we listen to our minds and bodies to look after ourselves.
Often the barriers to practicing good mental health are time and lack of know how. The Headspace app solves this by being your complete guide. Start with the basics and learn how to stress less, sleep soundly and improve your focus. The sessions are short so they can fit into your daily schedule. You can even choose your own narrator (male or female voice).
Perhaps the Weathering the Storm collection is just what we need right now as it is all about adapting to change and staying resilient. Headspace is a paid app but does have a free trial.
Visit Headspace for more info
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Please note, Alliance Rehabilitation is not affiliated with the products or companies that own them. It is your responsibility to be safe when downloading & installing any app. There are always some risks to privacy and personal information when using technology – only download apps from reputable sources and be cautious about the type of information that they are requesting access to.
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