The 10 best health apps for expat women

As a woman living abroad, navigating travel, culture shock and stress, it’s especially important to stay fit physically and mentally. Health apps and mental health apps are a great way to do this.

One of the greatest challenges can be finding the time and motivation to monitor your wellbeing so you can manage issues before they become a problem. Using a health app is a great way to fit this in around your normal daily routine. Grab minutes here and there across your day to monitor your exercise, meditate or check in on your mood. To help you out, Allianz Care has compiled some of the best Android and iOS health apps for expat women:

Health apps for fitness 

1. Workout for Women

The title says it all: short, snappy 7-minute workouts designed specifically for women, users of this app love the look and feel with clear graphics that are easy to follow. Sessions are so short you can complete one before jumping into the shower in the morning.

2. The 7 Minute Workout

Another time saver at only 7 minutes, this fitness app’s combination of daily reminders, varied workouts and challenges is what users love about it. Even better, most of the routines do not require equipment so you can exercise anywhere. This app is perfect if consistency is a problem or you’re travelling a lot.

3. Pocket Yoga

If you want to improve your flexibility, but don’t have time to attend a yoga hub, why not bring it with you? This yoga app provides you with the audio and visual instruction you need to perfect yoga poses at home or in your hotel room.

Health apps for your period 

4. Period Tracker

This simple app allows you to track the start and finish date of your period which you can overlay with feelings, temperature and weight throughout the month. In time, it will allow you to see monthly patterns in your overall wellbeing that could be linked to your cycle.

5. Glow

If you want to keep a closer eye on your fertility this could be the app for you. Users use this app to predict periods of high and low fertility when trying to conceive. The Glow community of women discussing pregnancy and related topics through the app is also a great support.

6. myPill

If the pace of life abroad means you occasionally miss taking your pill then this app is for you. It functions in two ways, providing gentle reminders and a virtual pack where you can mark off when you take your pill (avoiding those ‘did I take my pill or not?’ moments).

Health apps for mindfulness 

7. Headspace

Feeling overwhelmed? Just 10 minutes a day following the guided meditations on this app could help you build the mental capacity you need to get things done. Founded by an ex Buddhist monk who saw the benefit this ancient art could bring to our modern lives. A hugely popular mental health app, for a good reason.

8. Calm

Offering meditation, stress management and aids to sleep, this app is the go-to if you are looking for a holistic approach to stress management. Users love the beautiful scenery, variety of assistance it offers and the soothing tones of the narrators.

9. Android MoodSpace

Short daily Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based workouts to improve your mood. This app helps you focus on the positive, identify and challenge negative thinking and includes useful meditations to maintain a sense of calm during difficult times.

10. Apple Mood Notes

Record how you feel daily, the app responds with gentle insight, encouragement and useful questions to help you think differently. Over time you will identify negative thought patterns and find solutions with the app’s guidance.

Health apps should never replace a visit to a doctor or counsellor, even while you are living abroad. Make sure you have access to the help you need when you need it with international health insurance.