October 10 is World Mental Health Day, a reminder to take stock of our mental well-being in the midst of daily chaos. It’s a day to step back, reflect, and think about how we can better manage stress, anxiety, and the emotional toll of modern life. And while mental health conversations are everywhere, tech is increasingly playing a role in these discussions.
For Apple Watch users, this year comes with a bonus. To mark the day, Apple is offering a limited-edition award for those who log 10 mindful minutes with any app that syncs with the Health app on iPhone, including the Watch’s Mindfulness app. But beyond earning a digital badge, your Apple Watch could be doing a lot more to help you stay on top of your mental health.
Here’s how Apple’s wearable tech can be used in managing your mental well-being—not just on World Mental Health Day, but every day.
1. Track Your Moods & Emotions
Tracking physical health has always been one of the Apple Watch’s core strengths. But now, it’s giving users the ability to track something more elusive: their emotions. The State of Mind feature allows users to log their moods throughout the day, helping them spot patterns and better understand what might be triggering emotional highs and lows.
Why does this matter? Research has shown that simply identifying and reflecting on emotions can help people manage them better. Over time, tracking your emotional state might help you pinpoint stressors or habits that negatively affect your mood, giving you the data you need to make changes that improve your overall mental health.
2. Mental Health Check-ins
Getting a handle on your mental health isn’t always easy—especially when you’re not sure if you should seek help. That’s why Apple has integrated depression and anxiety assessments into its Health app, based on tools commonly used in clinical settings.
These assessments don’t replace seeing a professional, but they can help you understand where you stand. And crucially, you can share the results with your doctor, giving them a clearer picture of your mental health before the conversation even begins. It’s a practical step towards integrating mental health care into everyday tech use, bridging the gap between self-monitoring and professional help.
3. Get Outdoors & Track Your Sunlight Exposure
There’s plenty of evidence to support the idea that spending time outdoors improves mental health. Even just 15-30 minutes a day can reduce stress and improve mood. The Apple Watch’s ambient light sensor lets you track how much time you’re spending in daylight, with data fed directly into the Health app.
While this feature may seem like a minor detail, it can serve as a useful reminder to get outside, especially for those working indoors all day. And with Family Setup, you can even monitor how much outdoor time your children are getting, making it easier to ensure everyone in the family is reaping the benefits of natural light.
4. Journaling For Mental Clarity
Gratitude journaling isn’t just a trendy self-help technique; it’s backed by research as an effective way to build emotional resilience and improve well-being. Apple’s new Journal app makes it easy to document your thoughts, track key moments, or reflect on daily experiences.
The app allows users to add photos, videos, and audio to their entries, turning them into richer, more detailed memories. More than just a digital diary, the Journal app uses machine learning to provide suggestions for entries, helping you stay consistent with the habit of reflection. It’s a small but meaningful way to foster mindfulness and gratitude, both of which are linked to better mental health.
5. Reduce Distractions With Focus Mode
One of the major mental health challenges of modern life is the constant barrage of notifications and distractions. Apple’s Focus mode is designed to help users cut through the noise. Whether you’re trying to concentrate at work, relax, or just disconnect, Focus mode lets you customise which notifications can get through.
What sets Focus mode apart is its ability to be tailored to different situations. It can be scheduled to activate at specific times of day or triggered by location. You can even link it to your Lock Screen, making it easy to silence distractions with a single swipe. It’s a small but powerful tool for maintaining your mental space in a world that’s constantly vying for your attention.
