Published 25 Mar 2020

COVID19: Improve Your Life At Home Using These Free Apps

Candlefox

Did anyone anticipate that terms like self-isolation and quarantine would make their way into our everyday vocab?

The further we get into 2020, the more likely it feels that the ‘word of the year’ will be social distancing.

COVID-19 has got everyone in crisis-mode in the comfort of our own homes; any time you open Google, the latest news story has gone from bad to worse.

You might be asking yourself:

How can I stay connected with my loved ones when I have to distance myself from them?
How do I stay fit when all the gyms are closing?
How can I come up with interesting meal plans when I’m limited to these staples?

Or, maybe you’re a bit beyond that, and you’re beginning to feel a bit more disastrous:

How do I distract myself from the coronavirus outbreak and feel calmer at home?

Fortunately, there’s good news: even though we might be self-isolating or social distancing, there are still ways to stay connected and keep calm. And no, it’s nothing to do with binging TV shows on Netflix.

Here’s a list of apps that will target your concerns in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, to help you stay grounded while working from home:

Cook
Exercise
Meditate

Connect
Read
Play

Cook

So, you’re not the best cook but found yourself at home self-isolating, suddenly needing to cook for yourself every night?

Take-away might still be an option, but if you’re trying to save money, here are some free recipe apps to help inspire you in your own kitchen:

Tasty
A step-by-step recipe app that’s easy to follow. The app even keeps your phone awake so that you don’t have to keep waking it back up once you’ve got your hands dirty in the kitchen. The app is completely free and available on your iPhone or iPad.
Epicurious
Gives you free access to recipes from publishers you already know and trust, like Bon Appetit, Gourmet, and HarperCollins. The app is updated with new content every week to keep things interesting.
Tastemade
The place to stream or download recipe videos for free whenever, wherever. All the fun food content you want, right at your fingertips.

Exercise

Worried about all the calories you lost count of since the gym closed? No need to start counting calories; you can still work out from home:

Freeletics
If you’re used to the tailored training you get from a personal trainer, try Freeletics. The app offers digital coaching, starting at $2.42 a week, with routines that are accessible at home.
Sweat
Prefer working with women? Sweat lets you work with experienced female trainers that can help you target specific concerns, like post-pregnancy exercise. Pay as little as 0.66c a day.
Centr
Chris Hemsworth’s new app focuses on health, training, and mindfulness, so it’s really a one-stop-shop for all your worries during self-isolation. Start a new healthy lifestyle from the comfort of your own home through at-home training in boxing, yoga, and more. You can get full access to the app for free through a 6-week trial period.

Meditate

If you’re less concerned about your physical health and more focused on working on your mental health during this time, a meditation app could work for you:

Headspace
One of the most popular mindfulness apps on the market, Headspace offers free guided meditation and mindfulness practices related to stress, anxiety, sleep management, productivity, and physical health.
Smiling Mind
Shows you how to check in with yourself through guided meditation practices. This free app is designed to be all-ages and offers set-ups that are designed for the whole family.
Calm
Offers guided meditation services, as short or as long as you like, depending on how much time you have on your hands. Calm is free to download for iOS and android.

Connect

It can be hard to be so far apart from your loved ones during this trying time. Fortunately, there are apps available to connect with your loved ones via text, voice or video hangouts, so you can still feel like they’re right there by your side:

Houseparty
Houseparty alerts you when your loved ones are “in the house” and available to chat. This gives you the opportunity to start the conversation back up any time and takes away the need to schedule one another in; keeping things quick, easy and connected. And it’s free!
Marco Polo
Text or video chat, depending on what suits you. Use filters to brighten things up and record any particularly special memories for safekeeping. Free to download for both iOS and android.
Discord
A free messaging app that lets you chat via text, voice and video calls. You can also game with friends and family to keep everyone entertained.

Read

It can be tricky to stop scrolling when the news is covering a pandemic that’s all over the world. To keep the crisis at bay, lose yourself in a book:

Audible
An audiobook provider who has recently made hundreds of titles completely free in response to COVID-19. Have an audiobook to read to you to keep you company.
Apple Books
An e-book service provider, where you can read or listen to audiobooks. A number of free titles are available, as well as heavily discounted books from time to time.
Pocket
If you want to stop scrolling social media but still keep updated, Pocket is a great space to read. Save articles so that you can read them later or browse the app to find unique long-form journalism. It’s free to download.

Play

At the end of the day, you might just need some straight-up distraction; some straight-up fun. We all know there are great gaming options available through the play store:

Sims 4
A game we all know and love that lets us live vicariously through the lives of our Sims. EA Games have recently released the base Mac/Microsoft game for only $5. Alternatively, you can play the Sims Mobile app for free.
Mario Kart Tour
If you loved Mario Kart as a kid but don’t have the gaming console for it anymore, you’re in luck. Nintendo recently released an app for free, where you can play with friends and family, or other players across the world in multiplayer mode. The app is free to play.
Animal Crossing Pocket Camp
Invite your friends to join your cute campsite in a world full of colourful creatures in your Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, available to download for free.

Whether you’re targeting your health and wellness or just looking to keep your mind off things during this trying time, there’s a way to do it all from home on your smartphone.

Remember to keep connected, stay grounded, and look after yourself.