Folks with ADHD benefit from routines, reminders, and gamification to help us stay healthy. Here are a few iPhone applications I use to keep my physical and emotional wellbeing on track.

Apple Health

Shipped with all new iPhones, Apple Health has evolved from a step tracker with medical records to a full-fledged health monitoring application. I used to have a separate app for menstrual cycle tracking, another for medication tracking, and yet another for mood tracking. Now I track those in Apple Health, along with steps and workouts.

Pillow

$9.99 monthly or $39.99 annually

Though Apple Health offers sleep tracking, I’ve used the Pillow app for iOS since 2021. It’s affordable, offers a great user experience, and allows me to keep my sleep data all in the same format for easier analysis. (I have written about it before, in case you’d like more details.)

NatureDose

Free

The most recent addition to my little stack is NatureDose, which can “monitor your time inside, outside, and exposed to natural environments to help you leverage the proven benefits of nature exposure for better mental and physical health.”

I definitely notice a difference in my mood and often get a little exercise when I set aside even a few minutes to get outside each day. NatureDose helps me track and quantify these benefits.

Wakeout

$12.99 monthly or $59.99 annually

Wakeout makes incorporating movement into your workday easy and fun a few minutes at a time. The movements are simple enough so that almost anyone can do them, and organized into short routines you can do throughout the day. Wakeout has mini-workouts focused on back pain, neck tension, eye strain, and other areas that commonly affect people who sit at desks most of the day.

NYT Games

Included with NYT All Access or $5.00 monthly

When I need a 10-minute break during the day or I’m about to switch contexts, I’ll play the New York Times games Connections, Spelling Bee, or Wordle. They’re fun, social (I have a number of friends who play daily), and research suggests that “brain teaser” games may improve mental health and attention.

Calm

$14.99 monthly, $69.99 annually, or may be included with your health plan

Each weekday morning for most of the past year, I’ve logged in to the Calm app and started my day with The Daily Trip, a meditation series led by Jeff Warren, a meditation instructor who has ADHD. The Daily Trip is short, practical, and inspiring. It helps me start my day from a refreshed and calm place. Jeff also leads a short series on meditation specifically for people with ADHD, available in the app. Calm is a paid app, but it’s a free benefit with my health insurance plan, so be sure to check with your insurer to see if they offer it or a similar app like Headspace.