5 Apps That Will Make You A Better Person After Being Quarantined

We know that if you're being forced into self-isolation it sucks! But it doesn't mean you can't utilize your time for self-development. These apps will have you coming out of quarantine a better person and ready to take on the world!

We're living in strange times and the state of the world can become consumed with negativity. It's a dangerous path that can lead to depression, weight gain, and loss of focus. Mental Wellness is one of the most overlooked aspects of health. So it's important to keep your mind sharp and goals clear. I have compiled a list of apps that will help you learn a new language, develop a new skill, and provide focus on your journey. The goal is to prevent your skills from being diminished, obtain some new skills, and come out of this a better person.

Fabulous

Fabulous is an amazing app with a focus on self-care. As described by its developers, it's a "science-based app, incubated in Duke's Behavioral Economics Lab, that will help you build healthy rituals into your life, just like an elite athlete." Its intention is to help you refocus and assist in execution. It accomplishes this by having users submit a self-analyzation form then creating the goals for them. For example, let's say you're a little scattered with your daily routine. The app will create a daily structure based on the answers you submitted in the areas you need work on. Whether it's a spiritual destination, weight loss, fitness, sleep, you will become more accomplished. Right now, they are offering 72% off their premium membership which is $47.99 CAD for the year which includes a 7-day free trial.

Skillshare - Creative Classes

When the economy recovers and employers are looking to hire, you want to give yourself an advantage, so why not learn a new skill? If you're actively seeking to learn new things especially for the job market, then this app is for you. As described by its developers, "the Skillshare mission is to provide quality and affordable online education to those who want to learn real-world skills and to make the learning process engaging and motivational."

What's unique about the classes is the "hands-on" approach it takes to learning. If you're someone that wanted to learn to code, there's a list of instructors teaching courses on coding. You watch the videos uploaded on the app, similar to YouTube tutorials. So why do you need this? What makes Skillshare uniquely different than a free YouTube video is the service allows students to find classes that they are interested in taking and allows teachers to find students interested in taking their class. Due to this structure, the courses are updated frequently and have grown in popularity with over 19,000 classes. Right now they are offering a month free trial. So if you've been wanting to update your resume with some newly refined skills, you may want to take a look at this app.

Duolingo

If you were ever interested in learning a new language or just wanted to brush up one, this app is essential! What I love about Duolingo is their approach to learning. It's done in a fun, creative way by providing games as you embark on your linguistic journey. Users can learn a wide variety of languages and the app sets reminders on how often you should play and focuses on your areas of weaknesses. You may think you know Spanish by knowing that "agua" means water, but can you pronounce it? There's audio to help assist you in the correct pronunciation of words and grammar tools to help you form proper sentences. The app is generally free with a premium option. You can take it on the go or practice daily at home. With more employers looking to hire people who are bilingual, this help will help you develop the skills you need and give you an advantage in the job market.

Elevate

The best way to stay sharp during the lockdown is to consistently "train your brain." Elevate is an app that specializes in that. Its goal is to help users boost productivity and build confidence in the areas of Math, Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking. With over 35 games, there are enough options to help you excel and focus on the areas you're weak in. Elevate's deep analytics and scoring system will help you improve through practice making you more efficient while being productive. The worst thing anyone can do during this time is remaining stagnant. Just like any muscle in your body, the brain needs stimulation. Imagine returning to work and not having the mental capacity to put together a proper presentation or forgetting how to send an email with proper grammar? Elevate will help you stay sharp and focused making you ready to return to the job market. If you don't have this app I suggest downloading it and if you have it, I suggest to start using it.

Headspace

Ever heard the term, "I have to be in the right headspace"? Ok, well there's an app for that. Meditation is overlooked in our daily routine and that's unfortunate. Daily mediation assists in the areas of focus, decreasing stress levels, and relaxation. Headspace is an app with a mission of providing guided meditation and mindfulness. The app helps you deal with anxiety, stress, better sleep, and focusing on new goals. Like most wellness apps, you will submit information based on your needs and then receive a program that you will follow daily. For example, small meditation sessions in the morning before you start your day is an option. If that's an area of focus, the app will create a daily reminder for a 5-minute session and users check it off as they go along. It will also provide feedback and highlight progress during your journey. This is another app I deem "essential" and that should be used in your daily routine. If you're finding difficulties in these areas, then this app is for you.

By: Jay Denson