Take a digital detox: Apps to help you unplug and be present

With endless entertainment right at your fingertips, it can feel impossible to put your phone down. Push yourself to unplug and be present with the help of apps that set limits on screen time, motivate you in mindfulness, and promote better focus.

Staying focused can be hard, but Forest helps you practice presence through a gamified approach. Transform your productivity into your very own digital forest. Choose the amount of time you want to spend focusing on something, then tap “Plant” to start the timer. Focus on your tasks and resist distraction while your digital sapling grows into a tree. Talk about visualizing the fruits of your labor.

How much time do you spend between all your favorite apps? Odds are, it’s a lot more than you think. StayFree helps you track your total daily screen time as well as the amount of time you spend in each app. Try using time limits, usage schedules, and more to minimize your screen time. Need an extra push to prioritize presence? Check out global comparisons to see your average usage against others around the world.

Take a digital detox with screen time schedules, app usage tracking, and personalized challenges, like an eight-hour fast from your fave app, that help you unplug and be present. You can even have a friend create a pin to lock apps you check impulsively so they’re out of sight and mind. Once you dial back your daily usage, unlock your apps and see if you can continue your healthy habits.

Whether you want to find balance between socializing and surfing the web or cut out mindless scrolling completely, Zario can help you get started. Try setting limits on the number of times you can open an app or the amount of time you can spend on it per day. You can also try challenges like charging your phone away from your bed so you’re not tempted by late-night deep dives.

Explore a library of guided meditations, music, and soundscapes that help you improve focus, mindfulness, and more. With a membership, you can try exercises that help you to be more intentional with your time and interactions so you can learn to recognize and avoid distractions. Headspace can help you find an abundance of areas in your daily life to practice mindfulness, from work to parenting to food.