Meditation has been a staple of many cultures and religions for thousands of years, and is often used as a way to bring peace to the mind. In recent years, the self-care movement has especially embraced mindfulness, which encourages people to focus their thoughts on the present moment.
Research has suggested that mindfulness is positively associated with life satisfaction and the ability to process positive emotions. A 2017 study by the University of Cambridge found that mindfulness training helps build resilience in university students and improves their mental health, while mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) for the prevention of relapse in recurrent depression.
Even brief mindfulness training, such as in the form of a short, guided meditation session, has been found to be beneficial. Luckily, there are a number of useful apps out there to help you on your way. Whether you plan to start your day off with a meditation session or squeeze it into your lunch break, these apps should help you add some mindfulness to your busy, modern-day lives.
Headspace
Android/iOS
One of the most popular and well-known meditation apps, Headspace offers a simple and easy introduction to the practice. Beloved by the likes of Emma Watson, it’s definitely a trendy and hip app to try, and short, daily guided sessions featuring co-founder – and former Buddhist monk – Andy Puddicombe’s comforting voice make it a useful starting point for those who’ve never tried meditation before or are sceptical about giving it a go. The app makes it easy to track your progress and also features a range of fun cartoons and animations.
Headspace offers 10 free sessions to teach the “basics”, with the option of choosing a three-, five- or 10-minute guided meditation, but it is one of the more pricey options for an annual subscription, coming in at £72.
Calm
Android/iOS
Another well-known and popular choice, Calm is the meditation app to try if you like your relaxation with a dose of crashing waves or soothing forest sounds. Its night-time stories and meditations come highly recommended and almost transport you to a spa-like serenity. The app, which was Apple’s app of the year in 2017, enables you to choose from a range of guided plans – such as its “21 days of calm”, which has step-by-step guidance on how to integrate mindfulness into your everyday life. To unlock the full library, there is an annual Calm Premium subscription, priced at £37.99.
Simple Habit
Android/ iOS
Simple Habit calls itself the “best meditation app for busy people”. Founder Yunha Kim, a former investment banker, should certainly know about that. The app, which is free to download, has a series of “on the go” options for specific moments – from taking a break at work to commuting or before a “big event”. Designed to simplify slotting meditation into those rare (and brief) free pockets of time at work, the guided meditations can be as short as five minutes. There are more than 50 free sessions on the app, but premium content costs £9.99 a month, or £88.99 for the year.
Insight Timer
Android/iOS
With more than 12,000 meditations, Insight Timer claims to have the largest free library of options. Choose from topics such as stress, anxiety, focus and gratitude to find a guided meditation to try from any one of its extensive range of meditation teachers. It’s possible to filter results by time and even look for male- or female-only voices. There is also a big community vibe to this app. You can subscribe to “the daily insight” package, which includes live classrooms and a catalogue of courses, for £56.99 per year.
Smiling Mind
Android/iOS
A 100% not-for-profit organisation, Smiling Mind aims to reach 5 million young people by 2021. As well as offering meditation tailored to youngsters and parents interested in getting their children into meditation, this app also has a range of sessions for adults keen to add some fuss-free mindfulness to their day. Whether on the daily commute, in the workplace or even during a fitness workout, there’s a meditation session to listen along to and give a go.
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