5 Apps To Boost Your Happiness Right Now

BrainTap works like an aural dose of CBD to melt away the pressures of the day, and help you cope better with worries and stress, through guided meditations that are set to music. The audio tracks are unique in that they combine beats of just one tone with binaural beats to encourage relaxation and help you cope better with pressure. These two different frequencies of sounds are played at the same time in different ears, and is a technique that is used by Hailey Bieber’s LA-based facialist, Emma Goodman, during her treatments to promote calmness. The key here is to use headphones to get the most out of the track.

This is the app that ‘queen of green’ Tata Harper got most of the NET-A-PORTER beauty team hooked on. It plays different sound frequencies to stimulate the five main types of brain waves – alpha, beta, gamma, delta and theta. Tune in to Mindicine’s beta waves (which are the brain waves of active thought and learning) if you want to be productive or boost your creativity. We find it really does make a difference to our level of focus and concentration.

A similar sound to the ‘whoosh’ of white noise [which blocks out external disturbances], pink noise has become the new sleep aid of choice. While research is limited, one study found that pink noise reduces brain waves, which, in turn, helps you to fall asleep faster, increases deep sleep, and even improves memory. “I listen to pink noise at night – it’s a lower pitch than white noise and it helps filter out higher-frequency sounds that can be distracting,” says A-list makeup artist Gucci Westman. Many sounds in nature are considered pink noise, such as steady wind and rain. Rainy Mood lets you customize your rain vibe – from clapping thundershowers to a gentle pitter-patter – and offers a shut-off timer option, too.

Influencer Chriselle Lim listens to the Affirmation Pod podcast every morning during her skincare routine, to help her prep and feel confident throughout the day – and this is the app that gives you instant, searchable access to each set of positive affirmations. Hosted by digital creator Josie Ong, you’ll get up to 10 minutes of affirmations to repeat to yourself, covering a slew of topics, such as confidence, self-love, success and gratitude. Whether you’re prepping for a meeting, feeling nervous or simply looking to boost your mood, this app is great for tapping into whatever you need for a happier day ahead.

If you like the idea of meditating but just can’t seem to focus your thoughts, this Pause: Daily Mindfulness app is a great entry into the practice. You simply hold your finger on a small blob on the screen and move it around at a steady pace as it swells to fill the entire screen. It sounds surprisingly simple but, done against a backdrop of soothing music, it really does ease you into a feeling of calm. No wonder Carine Roitfeld uses it every morning for just 10 minutes to feel centered and ready to take on the day.

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