Let’s face it, we’re all feeling a little bit anxious these days, what with distance learning, social distancing, watching the news, and googling Covid-19 symptoms. While some people can take a quick moment and zen out, others need a bit of help. Experts suggest meditation, yoga movements, taking deep breaths, and listening to calming music. Luckily there are apps for all of these! Below find some of the best apps to combat anxiety and reduce stress—for both kids and adults.

• Aura. This app has it all: a mindfulness journal, meditations, nature sounds, life coaching, and more! (iOS, Android)
• Breathe2Relax. Breathe2Relax helps you learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing to manage your breaths. For a more thorough evaluation of your breathing, the app also connects with HealthKit and your Apple Watch device to measure your heart rate! (iOS, Android)
• BreathWrk. Breathwrk helps to alleviate anxiety, increase energy, improve focus, and help you fall asleep! Because I’m sure we could all use a little help getting to sleep each night. With the Breathwrk app you’ll use guided exercises to take deeper, guided breaths. (iOS)
• Calm. Millions of users use the Calm app for meditation. Start by entering in your needs for calm, and get personalized results for your daily meditation. Also, try out their Sleep Stories to fall asleep faster at night. (iOS, Android)
• Colorfy. Adult coloring books are known for helping to ease anxiety. This app takes the coloring to a digital environment, but the soothing effects are the same. (iOS, Android)
• Happify. Find out your happiness score and start improving it today. Find science-based activities, meditations, and games to play to soothe your mind and up your happiness! (iOS, Android)
• Headspace. Meditation is key and Headspace is probably one of the most notable apps to help start meditating. It comes with guided and unguided meditations to help you soothe any anxiety. The app comes with ten free sessions. This company is providing great support during this times. (iOS, Android)

• Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep. Fall asleep to the soothing sounds of rain, waves, or even a crackling fire with this relaxation app. (Android)
• Sleep Pillow. Soothing sounds allow you to fall asleep faster. Mix and match ambient white noises along with soothing nature sounds. And a timer allows you to turn it off so it doesn’t run all night. (iOS, Android)
• Stress Relief Coloring. Another coloring app! Because, really, one isn’t enough. Similar to meditation, the app lets you turn off your brain from everything else to focus on the moment. (iOS, Android, Kindle)
• Balloon Breathing Game. Empower kids to calm down by using these balloons to inhale and exhale. (iOS)
• Breathe, Think, Do With Sesame. Help children learn to identify their anxieties and self-calm with this app by Sesame Street. (iOS, Android)
• Cosmic Kids Yoga. Yoga can help center your kids and bring them back to the present. Cosmic Kids Yoga keeps them entertained and focused! (iOS, Android)
• Dandelion Breathing. Breathing through pursed lips allows you to exhale longer and thus calm down. Let kids practice on these soothing dandelion flowers. ( iOS)
• Dreamy Kid. Everyday meditations and affirmations made just for kids! (iOS, Android)
• Mindshift. This app is targeted to help adolescents, teens, and young adults gain insight into and basic skills to manage anxiety. It contains educational information about common sources and symptoms of worry, anxiety and panic, and has a checklist for users to complete to help determine the types of anxiety they most commonly face. (iOS, Android)
• Positive Penguins. This app features four positive penguins that help children understand that feelings come from their own thoughts rather than the situations. Kids learn to challenge negative thoughts and see things more optimistically! (iOS)
• Relax Melodies. Fall asleep fast with soothing melodies, with a section especially for kids. Choose from a variety of sounds, meditations, and bedtime stories. (iOS, Android)
• Sleep Meditations for Kids. Created for children of all ages, this app guides kids to the creative part of their mind through a number of carefully scripted story meditations. (iOS)
• Smiling Mind. Daily mindfulness and meditation for kids and adults! (iOS, Android)

Source:  Centre for Disease Control