Self-care apps have a purpose – to help you take care of yourself properly and bring out the best of you. Indulging in self-care is not a luxury today but a necessity. Self-care is buzzing in today’s wellness space driving millennials for digital assistance to enhance their physical and mental wellness.
Even if the latest wellness trends as identified by Global Wellness Summit report 2017 indicate more digital-disconnection, it doesn’t seem to justify the millennials’ growing craze on self-care apps to maintain their wellness. The craze is very much noticeable!
Booming of digital wellness apps business:
Managing time and finding the best routes to self-care can be tricky especially when dwelling in the round-the-clock noisy digital era. Even if you manage some relaxing time, distractions from work emails and social media messages can derail your relaxing mood.
However, the same distraction-generator, your smartphone, can virtually address every aspect of your self-care through some smartly programmed apps. In fact, the millennials’ obsession with self-care seems to be fetching good returns to the digital wellness apps creators.
A data analysis report from multiple app store intelligence firms indicates an appreciable growth in self-care apps business. Sensor Tower, the mobile app store Marketing Intelligence reports that top 10 highly-engaging self-care apps posted $15 million revenue earning in the 1st quarter of 2018 in the US and $27 million worldwide.
The firm also found that these top 10 mindfulness and meditation-based self-care apps earned about 170% more worldwide in the 1st quarter of 2018 than in Q1 2017. In the US, the earning was 167% more considering the same time span.
Leaders of the Self-care apps:
Among the top 10 self-care apps, Calm and Headspace are real money-churners. About 88% of revenue in Q1 2018 was generated by these two. Calm won the much sought after Apple’s App of the Year award in 2017. Both Calm and Headspace earn by user subscriptions and not individual purchases offering initial 7 and 10 days free trials respectively.
Unarguably, the listed top 3 self-care apps are Calm, Headspace and 10% Happier. These are followed by Simple Habit, Breathe, YogaGlo, Yoga Studio: Mind and Body, Zen, The Mindfulness App etc. Apart from these, scores of self-care apps are entering into the wellness space vying for the mindshare of millennials.
Why the craze for Self-care apps?
Experts attribute this to a number of combination factors but digital literacy of millennials is the vital one. Self-care for wellness exists since centuries. It is not a new thing but ways of addressing self-care needs are seeing a huge generational divide.
The millennials’ craze with self-care apps is a tad complex according to experts. According to Pew Reseach Center report in 2015, more millennials are showing commitment towards self-improvement than their previous generations. They are more aware of their self. It has somewhat turned into an obsession.
They spend more time on the internet looking for self-care enhancement tools ranging from diet-plans, personal grooming and weight management to anxiety and stress reduction. Any information related to these is bound to catch their quick attention.
But awareness about self always does not help in finding the right path to self-care. Search engines may answer your information queries but will not help you with the best fitting guidance needed to achieve your wellness goals.
Here comes the importance of self-care apps where you can get a personalized guidance to enhance your wellness. Millennials are more conscious of mental illnesses and the stigma attached to this is on the decline. This is also causing a surge in the usage of self-care apps.
How can self-care Apps help to take care of your own self?
Many apps are loaded with professionally-designed self-care guidance paths suggesting suitable fitness, meditation and relaxation techniques. They always deliver good vibes which itself turns out to be great motivators.
These apps allow you to select your wellness goals and direct you to activities accordingly. Occasional reminders set in the apps will help you to remain focused on your self-care. You will be able to track your improvement and view the changes in the app too.
A self-care app can help you in:
- Following the right diet-plan
- Weight management
- Tracking fitness through exercise and yoga classes
- Enhancing your mental wellbeing
- Confidence building
- Reducing your stress and anxiety
- Inducing happiness and good mood
- Self grooming
- Mindfulness and meditation
Do you need self-care apps?
Self-care apps have one distinct advantage – it can measure your improvements towards wellness. The recent boom in the self-care apps ecosystem has made your smartphone somewhat a source of wellness catering to your various wellness needs. But are people utilizing it properly? A million dollar question!
Many apps flood with a barrage of information and guide rules which can leave you overwhelmed at times. Self-care apps should not be considered an alternative to conventional treatments especially if you are suffering from serious mental illness or chronic conditions. There are some problems which meditation alone cannot solve. Lastly, you can also carve your self-care routine and inch towards your wellness goals without an app.
