Stress is serious business, and none of us are immune. In fact, most people experience some level of stress every single day, whether it’s connected to work, relationships, money, health, media overload, or the latest breaking news.
Suffice it to say, the more stressed you are, the higher your risk is for mental and physical health issues, especially when it’s chronic. Chronic stress increases the risk of developing problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and a weakened immune system. Additionally, studies show a correlation between stress and the development of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
That’s why I’m a big supporter of mindfulness and meditation apps – because every little thing you can do throughout your day to help relieve stress will improve your overall health and well being. But where do you start?
Clients often ask me for recommendations, and while there are countless resources out there, here are my top eight mindfulness and meditation apps.
1. Aura
Created by therapists and meditation teachers, users can access short meditation exercises every day on this app. It also uses machine learning to understand your needs better, personalizing your mindfulness journey to your goals and needs. Users can choose from three-minute, seven-minute or 10-minute meditation exercises, track mood patterns, and receive daily reminders of breathing techniques.
2. Breethe
This app helps users learn how to de-stress and sleep better every day in five minutes with a personal mindfulness coach, Lynne Goldberg. Users access guided meditation series, inspirational talks, and masterclasses that will help you better navigate life’s challenges and enjoy improved peace of mind. Additionally, the app’s sleep music playlists, nature sounds, and bedtime readings teach you how to experience a more restful sleep
3. Buddhify
The main idea behind Buddhify is that “you don’t have to find time for meditation, instead it comes to you.” Its meditations are categorized by activity or feelings. For instance, you’ll find guided meditations for Walking, Stress & Difficult Emotion, Work Break, Going to Sleep, Waking Up, and a variety of other categories. Written and voiced by a range of teachers, the sessions last from anywhere from four to 30 minutes.
4. Calm
The Calm app is all about relaxing visuals and sounds (like wood in the fireplace, flowing waters, evening crickets, etc.) designed to calm you down, with a choice of three tabs: music, meditate and sleep. The music tab offers new-age style electronica set to images of sunsets, cityscapes, waterfalls and ocean seas, along with natural water.
Meditation offers you different programs that teach the “basics of mindfulness,” and audio programs that feature a narrator over relaxing images. For sleep, users can access bedtime stories by notable storytellers.
5. Headspace
Hundreds of guided meditations are grouped into courses, and each course addresses topics applicable to daily life and issues. They include things like creativity, personal growth, insecurity, conflict, and planning. The courses are also geared for different audiences, like students or runners. Each meditation session allows you to progress within the course.
6. Insight Timer
Insight Timer is designed to provide peace of mind, improve sleep quality, and manage stress and anxiety. Appropriate for both beginners and practiced meditators, this app has thousands of guided meditations and music, along with discussion groups and community-building activities. Users can track progress, and there’s an advanced timer function for setting a preferred length of time. Multiple mediation types and languages are available.
7. Mindfulness Daily
This app is designed to help users build a daily mindfulness practice. In other words, it helps train you in mindfulness. For instance, a few minutes in the Morning includes a morning intention and daily lesson to begin your day with clarity. A short Pause during the day helps you catch yourself in stressful moments and learn to take quick, mindful pauses. And to unwind and the end of the day, Unplug and bring clear conclusion with a short reflection and relaxation practice.
8. Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience
Led by Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra, this option offers a 20-minute audio meditation each day and a series of thought-provoking reflection questions designed to anchor the teachings with a centering thought and mantra. Through a private, interactive journal feature, meditators are able to record and view their progress, gaining a picture of personal growth and development.
What Are Your Favorites?
Do you have any additional recommendations for meditation and mindfulness apps? We’d love to hear about them. Let us know the details – what are your favorites and what makes them great? And if you’d like to find out more about how Vida Aventura can help you maintain balance in the workplace and be the best professional you can be, contact us now. We’d love to help.
Deseri Garcia
Most leaders struggle with disengagement, dysfunction, and non-productive behaviors with their teams. We deliver training that develops leaders and engages teams to increase your company results.