FROM BIRDSONG TO BRAIN HEALTH - MY FAVOURITE APPS FOR WELLBEING
Tech doesn't have to be the enemy of wellbeing - it’s how we use it that matters.
Used with intention, and awareness, our phones can become tiny portals to insight, nourishment, connection and growth. In my own HYPNOURISH practice, I think of it as an often useful, sometimes delightful addition - tools that don’t distract or deplete, but rather support the rhythms of a healthier mind and body.
Here are a few of the apps (and one brilliant online resource) that I return to again and again to enhance my own sense of balance, curiosity and connection.
Yuka - decoding your food for better gut and brain health
I discovered Yuka when I wanted a simple way to check what was really in the foods and cosmetics I was using. You simply scan a barcode, and the app instantly analyses the ingredients - offering clear, evidence-based ratings on how beneficial (or not) they might be for your health. It then offers a range of alternatives that provide more or less of what you need,
What I love about it is how empowering it feels. Instead of guilt or overwhelm, you can make a better choice. I’ve found myself making small, satisfying swaps - a different yoghurt, a new brand of popcorn - and noticing the effect on my energy, focus, and mood (and smugness :)
In HYPNOURISH, we talk about awareness before change. Yuka offers exactly that: a moment to pause, notice, and choose with your gut–brain connection in mind. Each scan becomes a micro-moment of mindfulness, reinforcing the message that nourishing yourself doesn’t have to be complicated, and that you do have choices. As with anything, when using an app like this, you need to make sure you are choosing from an informed perspective. Use it as a tool, not a bible of nutrition.
Want to know who these little guys are? Merlin is your friend
Merlin - birdsong, mindfulness and connection to nature
If you ever see me standing quietly on a woodland path, phone in hand and eyes half-closed, I’m probably using Merlin. This extraordinary app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology identifies birds by their song. You simply press record, and within seconds it recognises and names the calls around you.
At first, I used it out of curiosity - but it’s become something deeper. There’s a subtle shift that happens when you start noticing birdsong with intention. Your breath slows, your shoulders drop, and the noise of the day disappears. I’m even beginning to recognise the songs and the birds without the app. The other evening, we heard a Tawny Owl!
It’s not just beautiful - it’s physiological. Listening to birdsong is linked to reduced anxiety and improved mood. Being outdoors exposes you to natural light, helping regulate circadian rhythms and boost serotonin. The gentle microbial exposure from nature even benefits your gut microbiome - one of the pillars of mental health that HYPNOURISH explores.
Merlin has become a small daily meditation for me - an invitation to connect, listen, and remember that wellbeing often begins with wonder.
Paired - nurturing relationships with awareness
We often think of wellbeing as something individual - meditation, journaling, diet, exercise. But one of the most powerful determinants of mental health is relationship quality (Positive Interaction in the Three Peas). The Paired app is designed to help couples connect through small daily conversations, playful quizzes, and thoughtful questions that spark insight and new understanding.
It’s not therapy; it’s more like curiosity in action. Taking a few minutes to answer a question such as “What do you appreciate most about your partner today?” activates the same neural networks that underpin gratitude, empathy, and secure attachment. These are protective buffers against stress and loneliness.
When I first started using Paired, with my husband Steve, I was struck by how quickly small moments of connection compound. It’s a beautiful reminder that relationships, like the nervous system, thrive on safety, predictability and attention - three elements that mirror the HYPNOURISH approach to emotional regulation.
BBC Maestro - lifelong learning for a nourished mind
The final tool isn’t technically an app, but it’s one of my favourite digital companions: BBC Maestro. I’ve been a subscriber for years, and I dip into its courses whenever I want to learn, spark creativity, or simply listen to inspiring voices from different walks of life. So far I’ve learned to make bread, sing, write creatively, elevate my business thinking and speak confidently in public.
From neuroscience and storytelling to cooking, writing, or even the art of happiness, these masterclasses offer something deeply human - the joy of curiosity. Learning in this way feels expansive; it feeds that part of the brain that lights up when we experience novelty, creativity, and meaning.
In HYPNOURISH, I often talk about the importance of keeping the mind flexible and playful. That’s exactly what these courses offer. They remind us that nourishment isn’t only physical - it’s mental, emotional and creative too.
If you’re curious to try something similar, BBC Maestro is around £120 a year for access to all courses — it’s something I often ask for as a Christmas gift! But learning doesn’t have to cost a thing. You could explore free courses on platforms like YouTube or the fantastic free mini-courses and resources on the Open University website. Or simply pick a topic that excites you and follow your curiosity. The important part is to keep learning - to feed that spark that makes you feel alive and open to life’s possibilities.
GIVEAWAY: GUEST PASSES FOR MEMBERS
And because sharing what we love is part of the joy, I have two BBC Maestro guest passes to give away this month, inside my memberships. If you’d like one, and you are a member of NOURISH, FLOURISH or REPLENISH, or a one to one client, just drop me a line via email. I’ll choose two people at random on the 26th November, just before the start of our next retreat.
A final reflection: mindful tech for meaningful living
Technology can easily consume our attention - but it can also refine it.
When we choose apps that guide us towards connection, curiosity, and calm, our devices become tools of alignment rather than distraction.
These four digital companions remind me that wellbeing doesn’t exist in opposition to modern life.
It’s about the small, intentional choices - scanning a food label, pausing to hear a wren sing, sharing a question with a loved one, or learning something new that reignites our spark.
Each of these moments nourishes the brain, soothes the nervous system, and deepens our sense of being alive in the world.
That, ultimately, is the heart of HYPNOURISH: noticing, choosing, and allowing ourselves to thrive - one mindful moment at a time.
🌿 Read, listen, notice, nourish.
What app helps you feel more grounded or inspired? I’d love to know - comment below and/or join the conversation on Instagram and share your favourite digital wellness tools.
