12 free apps to help you make the most of this year
Having a variety of self-care tools at your fingertips can help you improve your finances, relationships, mental health or overall well-being.
That’s why we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of apps that can help you make the most of this year. While these apps aren’t a substitute for professional help, they can help support you and your goals year round.
Tips for using apps
If you see an app that sounds like a good fit, try it out for a couple weeks before downloading another or giving up on it entirely. It can take time to build new habits and no app will be the perfect solution for everything. Ready to get started?
Lifestyle
Whether you’re looking to pick up new hobbies, improve your finances or be more active, there are plenty of apps available to support your goals.
Here are some apps to try:
Finances:
This app helps you keep track of all your accounts, spending and budgets in one place. It even lets you set goals and spending limits to help you stay on track with your finances.
Get the app:
Friendships:
Looking to make new friends? Patook is a free app that lets you swipe right on potential new friends. It operates similarly to dating apps but comes with one big caveat: platonic friendships only, no flirting allowed.
Get the app:
Food:
This app allows you to track your hunger, activity, sleep, feelings and more to help you identify patterns and build a more positive relationship with your body and food. You can also set goals and milestones based on your own needs.
Get the app:
Physical activity:
This all-in-one workout tracking app provides customizable routines, video instructions for a variety of exercises and tools to help you track your progress over time.
Get the app:
Sexual health:
While not technically an app, Roo is a free, private online chatbot that allows you to ask questions about sexual health, relationships, bodies and more. Roo is backed by professional health educators, so you know the answers you get are the real deal.
Get started:
Mindfulness and meditation
Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help us improve a variety of areas in our lives, including stress, sleep, focus, relationships and more.
Here are some apps to try:
This research-backed app helps you train your mind through meditation and podcast-style lessons to develop skills that can help you gain focus, reduce stress and maintain positive social connections.
Get the app:
Practice quick meditation and mindfulness exercises for stress, sleep, focus, relationships, sport performance, mindful eating or more. This app also covers the fundamentals if you’re new to meditation or mindfulness practices.
Get the app:
This app offers the world’s largest library of free guided meditations that are focused around different topic areas, including sleep, anxiety, relationships, stress and more.
Get the app:
Self-help
Learning to evaluate our thoughts and how they impact our behavior can help us develop a greater sense of confidence in our abilities when facing difficult situations.
Here are some apps to try if you struggle with negative thoughts or general mental health concerns:
(Currently only available for CU Boulder students)
WellTrack is designed to help you understand your mental health and provide you with the help that you need right now. WellTrack is a suite of online tools and courses that uses aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you identify, understand and address concerns and issues you may be facing. Simply sign in using your CU Boulder IdentiKey.
Get the app:
Have you ever wondered how your mood is impacted by different activities or habits? This app allows you to track your mood and symptoms alongside activities like sleep, medication, exercise and more to provide insights about what makes you feel better (and what doesn’t).
Get the app:
This app uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies to help you manage anxiety, challenge your beliefs, face your fears and build confidence in yourself. It can also help you tackle worries, perfectionism, social anxiety and more.
Get the app:
This private, password protected app is designed to help you resist or manage self-harm urges. It can also help you track your progress and work through quick coping techniques and strategies.
Get the app:
*Please note: These apps are not a substitute for professional help or therapy.
Campus resources
Did you know that there are a number of free CU Boulder apps to help you navigate your dining options, get into the Rec Center and find things to do around town?
For additional information or support, check out these resources on campus.
Let’s Talk
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides free drop-in services through Let’s Talk. Counselors are available in person and online to help provide insight, solutions and information about additional resources related to academics, stress, anxiety, substance use, relationships and more.
Peer Wellness Coaching
Meet one-on-one with a trained Peer Wellness Coach to set wellness goals and connect with campus resources. Coaches are available to help you create a plan to manage stress, time management, academics, sleep, relationships and more.
Workshops
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides free virtual workshops to support all CU Boulder students. Workshops cover a variety of topics and can help you develop coping skills to manage stress, anxiety, painful emotions and more.
Weekly programs
Health and Wellness Services offers weekly programs to help you develop healthy habits, participate in self-care and take a break from academics. Programs are available throughout the week and are free to all CU Boulder students.
Collegiate Recovery Community (CUCRC)
The CUCRC provides community, support and connection for students in recovery or seeking recovery from a wide range of behaviors. They will be hosting virtual recovery and support meetings weekly throughout winter break.
Disability Services
Disability Services is dedicated to providing students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in university programs, courses and activities through reasonable accommodations and services.
Adventure Resource Center
The Outdoor Pursuit's Adventure Resource Center (ARC) is available to help you plan your next adventure, big or small. The ARC provides a welcoming space where you can plan a trip or get assistance and recommendations from knowledgeable staff.
Nutrition Services
Meet with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) for a variety of services, including nutrition assessments, food allergies or intolerances, sports nutrition, body composition analysis and more.
Food assistance
Feed the Stampede provides food assistance programs for the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. They work to ensure students experiencing any level of food insecurity have the necessary knowledge, resources and access to enough food to meet their needs in an emergency or on-going basis.
Personal training services
The Rec Center’s nationally certified personal trainers can help provide motivation, education, guidance and instruction to help you improve your overall fitness and achieve your goals. They are also here to support you through assessments that can help maximize your workout while minimizing risk of injury.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Medical Services offers sexual health exams for all gender identities and sexual orientations. They can also help you navigate birth control options, hormone therapy, emergency contraception, gynecological services, sexually transmitted infections, testing services and more.