Relax and unwind this Christmas with these apps

Charities are working harder than ever. Pressure has been building among charity staff, with the toll being felt on mental health. This Christmas, unwind the tension with the best gaming, calming, and relaxation apps. Here is a list of some of our favourites.

Portal

Dreaming about sun, sand, and beachy weather? Travel restrictions won’t be able to touch your virtual holiday. Portal is an immersive experience app designed to let users escape to breath-taking landscapes. The tech includes ultra-high-definition visuals, dynamic sound, and light integration.

Top tip: Download just one app. Portal covers your holiday options – relaxation, concentration, and mindfulness experiences.

Headspace

One of the most popular mindfulness apps, Headspace is a mediation and sleep aid app. Soothing voices guide listeners in mediation on a variety of topics, including compassion, stress relief, and anxiety. There’s also a sleep aid section for charity staff looking to maximise their holiday snoozes. For those new to the app, charities and new subscribers receive a free trial.

Top tip: Take advantage of the free COVID-19 programmes.

Viridi

Meditation isn’t for everyone. For those itching to ‘do’ something relaxing, games might do the trick. Viridi is a simulation game which gently challenges players to grow a succulent garden. Virtual gardeners select a cache of plants and tend to their selection by watering them. The gardens grow or die depending on how much ‘care’ they receive.

Top tip: Test your office greening skills before you commit to live plants. The game mimics caring for live plants.

Zen Koi

Another relaxation game, Zen Koi offers a bit more engagement than Viridi. Billed as a game for ‘languid action and strategic collection’, gamers breed and nurture colourful Japanese carp fish on their mobile phones. The game is also free for charity workers.

Top tip: The best part of the game are the opportunities to progress for those who need to achieve something.

Two Dots

Unwind and be distracted by cheery animations and adventure. Two Dots is the next generation game of Dots. Mentally engaging, players travel to different worlds and uncover treasures. There are also surprise discoveries for users wanting more than just relaxation. Soundtracks are available for those who want to be fully immersed.

Top tip: This game is best for those who need to achieve, even on a holiday.

WAKEorDONATE

For those not looking to do, play, or think about anything, this app is all about snoozing. The app is an alarm clock with the usual snooze buttons. The catch is when users do oversleep, money is donated to chosen charities. Subscribers can select how much money they donate from 50p to £10 a snooze. The best part of this app is that if your chosen charity isn’t a recipient, you can always suggest for their inclusion.

Top tip: Guilt free naps await during the holiday season.

Slumber

Get a restful night’s sleep over the festive season. Slumber is an app that ‘puts you to sleep’. The app’s developers worked with meditation specialists to come up with music, scenery, and stories to help you fall asleep. The app has a range of subscriptions fitting for all budgets.

Top tip: The story library is extensive, so there’s something for everyone.

BetterSleep

Another sleep aid app, BetterSleep lets users choose what they want to improve. There are four categories of relaxation, including sounds and music, mediation and bedtime stories, exercises and breathing. For individuals, there is a vast library of free sounds. For charities aiming to improve mindfulness, there’s also a business section.

Top tip: The mixer allows users to customise their up mash-up of relaxation sounds. Use the ‘save mix’ function to recall favourite combinations.

7Cups

To unload all your troubles, turn to 7Cups. A community of peers and trained counsellors are online and ready to listen. There are free chat forums with specific themes – for some cheer, the introductory ones with memes puts everyone at ease. Self-help columns are also on offer for more passive users.

Top tip: For those with more serious issues, there are trained counsellors who can help.

Fluid Monkey

Take your mind off the office and doodle away. Fluid Monkey is a fun and creative way to let go. Use your fingertips to swirl into pools of colourful liquid and see the trailing effects. The app comes with eight pre-settings, so you can experience different kinds of textures. Users can also customise the app’s properties to create their own environments.

Top tip: Give it to your kids. It’s a mess-free way of creating paintings.