The term 'mindfulness' has been trending for quite some time. You can find social media exploding with these hashtags, making everybody talking about how to "get mindful" and train that monkey mind we're all guilty of having. While it does seem like a bit of a buzzword, the practice of mindfulness is actually pretty important. Rooted in Buddhist meditation traditions, this practice reduces stress, increases focus, and is even known to lower emotional reactivity, making you more prone to seeing things for what they are. Getting started is challenging at first, but here are 3 apps that might ease you into it.
Brightmind
This app features mindfulness teacher Shinzen Young, and other instructors who have studied with Young for decades. The app offers a "core" eight-part class according to your levels of interest. The classes are by Shinzen or meditation expert Julianna Raye. You can choose from an array of meditations ranging from ones geared to help you improve your levels of concentration, how to shift a mindset that is conducive to better sleeping patterns, or how to best recharge from a work break.
Calm
Calm is produced and mostly voiced by Tamara Levitt, a student of Buddhist teachings, Vipassana, Zen, and Shambhala. The app offers a series of meditations suited to various activities like walking and working, as well as "masterclasses" on conscious parenting, gratitude, and even mindful eating. It has a great aesthetic of beautiful landscapes and colors and even features some big names as voices like Ellie Goulding and Nick Offerman.
Headspace
Andy Puddicomb, a former Buddhist monk is the voice of the popular app Headspace. The app offers a 10-day course that teaches the fundamentals of mindfulness. In addition, you can also find a bunch of single meditations that promote mindfulness around technology and day to day things such as cleaning, walking, cooking, communicating, and exercising. You can find a series of fun animated videos that help illustrate the tenets of mindfulness for beginners.