10 calming apps to help you beat stress and feel more relaxed

The following suggested apps – many available for both iPhone and Android – will help you to breathe more deeply, feeling a little more centred and ready to handle anything that life and work throw at you.

1. Pacifica

Stress can get in the way of you living your life. Pacifica gives you holistic tools to address anxiety based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness, relaxation, and health. It's a simple app that encourages you to track your daily activities and asks how they might relate to your stress. It's incredible how recording your daily thoughts and feelings can help melt away your worries.

Free | Available for iPhone and Android

2. Happify

How you feel, matters. Whether you're feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or you're dealing with constant negative thoughts, Happify brings you practical tools to take control of your emotional wellbeing.

Free | Available for iPhone only

3. Breathe2Relax

As we've mentioned previously, it's well documented that breathing exercises help to reduce the body’s "fight-or-flight" stress response, and help with mood stabilisation, anger control, and anxiety management. In which case, you'll love Breathe2Relax – a portable stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help you learn the stress management skill called "diaphragmatic breathing".

Free | Available for iPhone and Android

4. Headspace

Meditation made simple with guided meditations suitable for all levels from Headspace. Meditation can help improve your focus, exercise mindful awareness, relieve anxiety and reduce stress. Start with its free Take10 programme, and you'll learn the basics of meditation in just 10 minutes a day.

Free | Available for iPhone and Android

5. Mindfulness Daily

Being mindful is often out of reach when we need it most. Mindfulness Daily helps you build a practice with just a few minutes sprinkled throughout your busy day. Just fire up the app every morning to enjoy some short mindful lessons, take a brief pause during the day to destress and unwind at night to experience some conscious reflection.

Free | Available for iPhone only

6. Personal Zen

Personal Zen is clinically proven to reduce stress by just playing a fun game. Built by a team of leading neuroscientists and mobile developers, playing Personal Zen retrains your brain to lower stress and anxiety. Just like exercising for physical health, we can exercise our brain for better mental health and wellness.

Free | Available for iPhone only

7. Yoga Studio

Can't afford to go to yoga classes? Download this affordable app to enjoy easy-to-follow HD video yoga classes. With 65 ready-made yoga and meditation classes, class scheduling and a library of over 280 poses with detailed advice and instructions, this app is excellent for beginners. It works on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV – or you can play classes on your TV via Chromecast. Perfect.

Priced at $3.99 | Available for iPhone and Android

8. Calm

Need a little more calm in your life? Calm is the right app for you. It can help you meditate, sleep, relax and much more. By downloading this neat little tool, you’ll discover how meditation can improve your mood and your life. Highlights include "7 Days of Calm" – a programme to help you learn how to meditate in seven days, and beautiful, immersive nature scenes with soothing background sounds.

Free | Available for iPhone and Android

9. Adult Colouring

As you know, colouring books aren't just for children anymore. The hot new relaxation trend, the Adult Colouring Book, has arrived on your smartphone! Turn on the mesmerising ambience and engage yourself in hours of peaceful colour therapy with hundreds of designs to colour in, including mandalas, flora, fauna, geometric, and many more types of artwork. Just select your colour and tap to paint.

Free | Available for iPhone and Android

10. Relax Melodies

Are you having trouble nodding off when you go to bed? Relax Melodies is a fantastic sleep aid app that will help you get a full night's sleep. Select sounds and melodies that you like and combine them to create a mix. Adjust the volume of each sound individually for better results. Lay back, listen, and enjoy falling asleep. It's that simple, and it works. Use timers and alarms if required.

Free | Available for iPhone and Android