Self-care and tech are often seen as mutually exclusive – as if you have to pick one or the other. Not true! Practising self-care doesn’t have to mean putting down your device. In fact, there are plenty of useful self-care tools to be found online.

App: 5 Minute Journal

Gratitude journaling is often recommended to lower anxiety levels. Journaling is also a useful self-care tool to organise swirling thoughts and to brain-dump information and ideas that keep you awake at night. Valuable for newbies and journaling pros alike, the free version of this app gives you a private journal with useful prompts to get you started. Upgrade to premium and unlock additional features.

Download it on Apple or Android here.

App: Zombies Run

Exercise is self-care for your body and mind – and it has nothing to do with clothing sizes. It strengthens your heart and lungs, helps you sleep better, lifts your mood, and even helps you think. Walking – and if you’re up for it, running – is among the most accessible ways to get your move on. You just need comfy clothing and a pair of sneakers (look for amazing deals on fitness gear in the VodaPay app!).

And for motivation: an army of the undead at your back! Walk or run to complete a quest that’s playing through your headphones, collecting supplies and evading enemies along the way. If you’ve ever said you won’t run unless you’re being chased, this app is for you!

Download it on Apple or Android here.

Podcast: The Science of Happiness

You tap on one news post and next thing you’re stuck in a doom scroll of negativity, feeling increasingly sad about the state of the world and helpless to do anything about it. Sound familiar? Being intentional about happiness is an act of self-care – and this podcast, hosted by psychologist Dr. Dacher Keltner, gives you the positive psychology tools to get it right.

Listen on Spotify here or catch it on Apple Podcasts here. 

eBooks: Self-care recipe books

If you eat a lot of junk food and often feel sluggish, foggy-headed, bloated, tired – or regularly struggle with heartburn – listen up: Nourishing your body with healthy food is self-care. You may be amazed at how much better you feel. And if you don’t know where to start, there are some great healthy e-books you can download for free!

• The Ocean Cookbook 2025 from MSC contains sustainable seafood recipes from chefs around the world, including SA. Download it here.
• The Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA) has healthy recipes and e-books for every occasion. Download them here.
• The Sweet Life Cookbook contains healthy recipes for people with diabetes – including dessert! Download it here.

Social media: Uplifting handles  

A good way to counteract the doom and gloom on social media? Flood your feed with positivity.

On Instagram:

@wonderled.life is a psychotherapist who posts wholesome, uplifting memes.

@selfcare.recipe posts self-care tips, reminders and encouragement.

On TikTok:

@spreadingpositivevideos shares heartwarming videos of animals being adorable.

Post by @spreadingpositivevideos

@kaikaku (a Japanese word meaning “radical change”) shares inspirational thoughts with anime.

Digital doesn't have to mean draining – it can be your path to self-care.