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Wellbeing apps: How to use technology to improve your health
Find the best wellbeing apps to stay healthy, focused, and stress-free as a student or digital nomad abroad.
If you’re planning to study or work abroad, maintaining your physical and mental health can be tricky when you’re also trying to balance your workload, adjust to a new culture, make new friends, and keep in touch with people back home. Unfortunately, it can be quite easy to lose track of your own wellbeing. That’s where technology can make a positive difference. Wellbeing apps are designed to help you stay healthy, mindful, and organised – no matter where life takes you.
For international students and digital nomads, wellbeing isn’t just about avoiding stress; it’s about maintaining focus, motivation, and connection. There are plenty of wellbeing apps that make it easier to manage mental health, build good habits, and even limit digital distractions. In this guide, we’ll explore five of the best apps for wellbeing that can support your journey abroad.
Headspace
Best for: Mindfulness, stress management, and lifelong mental health support.
Think of Headspace as your lifelong guide to better mental health. Its mission is simple yet powerful: To make quality mental health support accessible to everyone, no matter their background or experience. Headspace helps you get through tough times and find joy in everyday life, whether you’re studying abroad or working remotely across the world.
Why it’s useful: Through evidence-based meditation and mindfulness tools, mental health coaching, therapy, and psychiatry, Headspace empowers users to create life-changing habits that support mental health and overall wellbeing.
Evidence-based outcomes:
- 32% less stress in 30 days of using Headspace
- 3+ more productive days per month
- 59% of members experienced improvement in anxiety symptoms
- 70% of members experienced improvement in depression symptoms
Strengths: Clinically tested results, holistic care model, and suitable for all experience levels. Headspace has reached over 100 million people in more than 200 countries and regions, with 70+ million app downloads – making it one of the most widely used mental wellbeing apps in the world.
Weaknesses: Premium features require a subscription.
Integration: Works on iOS, Android, and browser; syncs with Apple Health and Google Fit.
Cost: $13.90 /month (€12.99) with 7 days free.
Display: Clean, colourful and engaging interface featuring guided meditations, mindful movement, focus exercises, and soothing sleepcasts.
Fabulous
Best for: Building positive daily routines and long-term habit transformation.
If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent with healthy habits, Fabulous is like having a science-backed life coach in your pocket. Created at Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, this award-winning app combines behavioural science, psychology, and design to help you make smart changes that truly stick.
Why it’s useful: Fabulous uses evidence-based behaviour change principles to guide users toward better routines, improved focus, and sustainable self-care habits. You can create personalised “Journeys” that include morning rituals, productivity boosters, and wind-down routines – all supported by motivational coaching and habit tracking. The app even offers a 24/7 Coaching Library, where users can book live sessions or explore on-demand resources, including specialised support for ADHD-related challenges.
Strengths: Scientifically grounded approach, beautifully illustrated interface, and real-time coaching support.
Fabulous is led by behavioural economists, psychologists, and data scientists who continuously refine the platform to help users create lasting change. So far, the app has helped over 37 million people build healthier, happier lives.
Awards & recognition:
• Best Self-Care App (App Store, 2018)
• Best App Finalist (Google Play Awards)
• Google Material Design Award Winner
Weaknesses: Trial and full access require a subscription.
Integration: Works on iOS and Android, with reminders and accountability tools built into your daily schedule.
Cost:
- Trial: “Pay what you want” 14-day trial from $1.16 (€1) to $19.03 (€16.41), supporting employee compensation costs.
- Premium plan: $44.05 (€37.99) every two months (auto-renewing, 25% discount compared to monthly plans).
Display: Vibrant and intuitive interface with progress visuals, habit loops, and reflective prompts that encourage mindfulness.
Calm
Best for: Sleep, meditation, and stress relief.
Calm describes itself as the world’s #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation- It’s designed to help you stress less, sleep more, and live mindfully wherever you are. Whether you’re a student battling anxiety or a digital nomad seeking better balance, Calm provides research-based tools to help you build healthier, more resilient habits.
Why it’s useful: Calm offers more than 500+ Sleep Stories®, guided meditations, soundscapes, and music to help you unwind naturally. It’s ideal for those who struggle to switch off, featuring bedtime stories narrated by well-known voices (including Matthew McConaughey!), soothing nature sounds, and sleep music updated weekly. For moments of high stress, the app’s 60-second Breathe Bubble and Panic SOS exercises provide immediate grounding and relief.
Beyond relaxation, Calm includes programmes like 7 Days of Calm and 21 Days of Calm, designed to teach mindfulness foundations. Users can then explore themed sessions covering topics such as gratitude, focus, anxiety, and burnout.
Strengths: Massive content library, proven relaxation techniques, and beautiful design across devices.
Weaknesses: Trial and full access require subscription.
Integration: Available on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Google WearOS, Samsung Health, Samsung TV, and Sonos.
Cost: Free 14-day trial, followed by $75.41 (€64.99) /year, cancellable anytime.
Display: Sleek and calming interface with categories for Sleep, Meditate, Music, and Focus.
Forest
Best for: Focus, productivity, and digital wellbeing.
If you find yourself constantly distracted by your phone, Forest offers a simple yet powerful way to stay focused. Every time you need to concentrate – whether you’re studying, working remotely, or reading – you plant a virtual tree. As you focus, your tree grows. But if you leave the app to check messages or social media, your tree withers. It’s a playful and visual reminder to stay present.
Why it’s useful: Forest turns productivity into an eco-friendly game. Each focus session contributes to your personal digital forest, helping you see your progress grow over time. The app’s minimalist design encourages mindfulness and discourages multitasking – perfect for students and digital nomads who need structure in their workdays.
What makes Forest even more meaningful is its real-world impact. Through a partnership with Trees for the Future, Forest users can spend in-app virtual coins to plant real trees on Earth. To date, over 1.9 million trees have been planted thanks to the app’s global community.
Strengths: Encourages deep focus, promotes eco-conscious habits, and provides real-world environmental benefits. No subscription needed.
Weaknesses: Limited features beyond focus tracking.
Integration: Works on iOS, Android, Chrome, and Firefox extensions.
Cost: One-time purchase of $3.99 (€3.70), with optional in-app purchases for tree species and rewards.
Display: Clean, nature-inspired interface where each focus session grows a virtual forest that represents your progress.
MyFitnessPal
Best for: Nutrition tracking, fitness goals, and healthy habit building.
If you’re looking for a smart and reliable way to track your diet and exercise, MyFitnessPal is known as the #1 nutrition tracking app in the world. Designed to fit real life, it helps users stay accountable, build long-term healthy habits, and understand how daily food choices affect their wellbeing.
Why it’s useful: With access to a database of over 20 million foods, MyFitnessPal lets you log calories, macros, and even micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Whether you’re following a heart-healthy, low-carb, or intermittent fasting plan, the app provides full nutritional breakdowns to help you stay informed and motivated.
The app also monitors water intake, weight, steps, and exercise, syncing with wearables like Fitbit and Apple Health. Premium members can unlock custom meal planners, intermittent fasting trackers, and personalised macro goals.
Strengths: Huge food database, in-depth analytics, and integration with fitness devices. The built-in barcode scanner and new voice log make food tracking faster than ever – perfect for digital nomads who want to stay on top of their nutrition while travelling.
Weaknesses: Many advanced features are behind a paywall.
Integration: Works on iOS, Android, and Web, compatible with fitness trackers and smartwatches.
Cost:
- Free plan with core tracking tools.
- Premium plan: $28.99 (€24.99) /month or $115.99 (€99.99) /year (billed annually at $9.68 (€8.34) /month, saving 67%). Includes a 1-month free trial for new users.
Display: Clean, intuitive dashboard with colour-coded nutrient breakdowns and detailed progress insights.
How wellbeing apps help people thrive while living abroad
Maintaining your mental and physical wellbeing is key to enjoying life while abroad. The right wellbeing apps can help you manage stress, focus on your goals, and strike a balance between productivity and rest.
Technology, when used mindfully, can enhance rather than replace your self-care habits.
By combining these apps with good digital hygiene, you can cultivate a healthier, more balanced daily routine.
H2. Pro tip: Stay connected while taking care of yourself
If you’re traveling or working abroad and want to use wellbeing apps, staying connected is vital. With Holafly, you can keep access to your favourite wellbeing apps wherever you go – without worrying about roaming fees or unstable Wi-Fi.
Holafly offers:
- eSIMs for more than 270 destinations
- Unlimited or Light Plans for long-term stays
With the right wellbeing apps and a strong internet connection, it’s easier than ever to practice keeping mindful, focused, and healthy while on the go.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
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I've been a copywriter for over a decade, working mostly in the retail industry. I've managed copywriting teams and contributed to major campaigns for F&F at Tesco, TK Maxx, and Dreams. I also work part-time as a news writer. Outside of work, I love to cook, and a fun fact about me is that I have a phobia of bananas—it's the smell!
