written by home doctor brisbane
Mindfulness can be difficult to achieve with our daily lives getting busier and busier. Though it’s worth making a little time for it each day as there are a number of wonderful health benefits. These include:
- Lowers stress
- Helps understand pain
- Can help you connect better with others
- Helps focus your mind
- Reduces brain chatter
- Increased immune function
- Can decrease depression and anxiety
What is mindfulness?
It’s one of those buzz words you’ve no doubt heard a number of times, but what actually is mindfulness? It is the basic ability to be fully present, aware of where you are and what you’re doing and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is around you.
We all possess the ability to be mindful, but the more we practice it the easier it becomes. One of the best ways to begin practicing mindfulness is through meditation.
Apps to help with mindfulness
As the saying goes, ‘there’s an app for that’. Struggling to know where to begin with practicing meditation or mindfulness? Here are 5 apps that might come in handy.
This app offers a number of meditation options for begins through to seasoned experts. It is available to download for free with paid premium subscriptions. It offers:
- Five-day introduction to mindfulness
- Silent and guided sessions ranging from 3 to 30 minutes
- Reminders and statistics
- A full library of meditations and courses
2. Calm
Calm aims to bring more clarity, joy and peace to your daily life through mindfulness and meditation. The app is free to download with a paid monthly or yearly subscription. It is available for Apple and Android devices and offers:
- Guided meditations from 3 to 25 minutes
- Sleep stories
- Breathing programs
- Relaxing music
- Progress tracking
3. Headspace
Headspace is rated as one of the top apps for mindfulness. It offers a basic pack for free which aims to help teach you the essentials of living a healthier, happier life. It is available for Apple and Android offering tips on:
- Headspace for work
- Headspace for kids
- Headspace for sleep
- Headspace for focus
- Headspace for stress
Stop Breathe Think has two apps available, one for adults and another for kids, aimed at helping you find peace anywhere. The foundational meditations are available for free and further paid, premium subscriptions are offered.
- Over 55 meditations
- Guided meditations and yoga
- Progress tracking
5. InsightTimer
InsightTimer is a free meditation app offering:
- Ambient background sounds
- 8 activities
- interval bells
- personalised presets
- Statistics and milestones
- Guided meditations
