Mindfulness. It’s a hot topic and commonly used buzzword, but what exactly does it mean and how does it benefit us?
Simply put, mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. According to the American Psychological Association, the benefits of practicing mindfulness include decreased anxiety & stress, increased focus, better sleep & memory and overall better quality of life.
Mindfulness is a quality that every human being already possesses, it’s not something you have to conjure up, you just have to learn how to access it. And since there’s an app out there for everything these days, you can learn mindfulness techniques from anywhere. Below are my top 6 best apps to help you start experiencing the benefits of practicing mindfulness today!
1. Aura
This mindfulness app provides the user with daily micro-meditations that last only three minutes apiece. Aura helps users relieve stress and anxiety with a technologically advanced, simple, and effective meditation platform. It was created by some of the best and most sought-after meditation teachers and therapists, and personalized by AI.
Aura allows users the option to keep a gratitude journal, track moods throughout the day, and listen to the sounds of nature. It even makes meditation into a game, as it allows you to level up as you learn and participate in daily challenges. This may be the right app for you if you have limited time throughout the day to practice your meditation.
2. Calm
This app brings joy, peace, and a sense of clarity to your everyday life. Millions of people agree that this app is great for meditation, mindfulness, and changing your life in a positive way.
Calm provides the relaxing sound of falling rain automatically in the background, but you can also choose to be greeted by a crackling fireplace, crickets, or something called “celestial white noise.” Calm also includes some short meditations that you can use during a busy day.
Users of this app say it is well worth the money. It gives you the desire to stay consistent with your meditation practice, and allows people to increase their focus during their everyday lives. People have found this app to have amazing results during these tumultuous times.
3. Headspace
Headspace provides the user with spoken-word exercises that are designed to be used for around 10 minutes a day, beginning with a 10-session pack that comes free with the initial download. It includes short meditations for people who are on the go and even SOS meditations that are useful during times of crisis.
Headspace brands itself as being a gym membership for the mind. People note that they can feel the hard-to-quantify benefits from Headspace that have to do with their attention span, equanimity, sense of alertness, and the ability to deal with stressors in daily life. One user even claimed that this app cured his anxiety, even after using prescription drugs failed to do so.
The Headspace app has 350 hours of guided meditation lessons. Using noise-cancelling headphones with the Headspace app creates an intimate experience that is similar to having someone sitting next to you and directing your moves. One of the best things about this app is that you can try it out before buying it. It really teaches users how to incorporate meditation into their own lives so that it works for them.
4. Omvana
Omvana provides its users with over 500 of the world’s most effective transformational audio tracks to help improve every area of your life. Some of the most popular categories include body, mind, productivity, lifestyle, relationships, and hypnosis. The “6 Phase Meditation” guides you through different practices over the course of 20 minutes, including forgiveness, gratitude, and connection.
You can get started with this mindfulness app for free to see if it is the right one for you. Its versatility is attractive to most users, as well as its ability to provide motivation for the everyday person.
Users say that Omvana is a brilliant idea that allows people to transform the way they meditate in order to make their practice more effective. Some claim that even just the first few sessions are very effective. This app allows the user to create new meditation sequences depending on what works best for them.
5. Mindfulness Daily
This is another mindfulness app that will only take a few minutes of your time each day and provide you with invaluable benefits. The app supports quick, effective guided practices to reduce stress and anxiety, improve performance, and enhance sleep.
The team behind this app collaborates with some of the world’s most sought-after scientists, physicians, researchers, trainers, and coaches to create their a format that works great on mobile devices. This allows the users to fully integrate the method into their lives in just a few minutes each day.
People who use this app especially love its ability to reduce stress and promote sleep. The extended body scan promotes a sense of relaxation that allows you to set aside your worries from the day and get a good night’s sleep.
6. The Mindfulness App
The Mindfulness App was started by two yoga and mindfulness professionals and enthusiasts who had the goal of sharing the benefits of mindfulness with the general population. They wanted to make the world a friendlier, healthier, and more lovable place to be.
The Mindfulness App is one of the most accessible apps, offering a decent catalog of meditation tracks with and without narrators. These tracks range from 3 to 30 minutes and can be personalized to your individual needs.
If you try an app and it doesn’t seem right for you, don’t be afraid to jump ship and choose another. This is a trial-and-error process that will benefit you in the end when you find the app that works for you. You may even want to download a few apps to have on hand so you can switch up your routine a bit throughout the week. The important thing is that you are able to find a system that works for you so you will stick with it.
Final Thoughts on These Mindfulness Apps
Building a mindfulness and/or meditation practice is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, relax yourself, and live in the present moment. Even if you do it for just a few minutes a day, you’ll find yourself calmer and better equipped to handle the daily challenges of modern living.
To get started, I recommend checking out one or two of the apps that we listed on this page and then use it to build a regular practice. Please let me know in the comments which one you like the most and the benefits you experience!
If you’d like to learn more about reducing stress & anxiety, increasing focus & memory and overall well-being, here are additional blog posts and resources that you might find interesting:
5 Ways To Destress Naturally
The Healing Power Of Nature
