When was the last time that you used your smartphone to be more fully present with an attitude of curiosity and acceptance? And no judgment here, but Candy Crush Saga doesn’t really count.
We live in very interesting times as digital tools can uniquely support many of our intentions in alignment with our goals for personal development, relaxation and renewal.
Mindfulness, the practice of truly attending to our current circumstances, is now viewed as an accessible approach for everyone — including you — with scientific evidence to prove that the incredible benefits are real.
Studies show that regular engagement in mindfulness practices can reduce stress, increase immune function and improve memory. Sara Lazar and researchers at Harvard found that meditation literally rebuilds the grey matter of the brain. A John Hopkins study additionally determined that meditation has a moderate effect on improving anxiety and reducing depression.
Pretty compelling, right?
As you are out-and-about in cyberspace on your smartphone, check out the following apps to reach your own Zen-like place more often:
Calm (Android, iOS): The app takes you through meditation segments from 2-minutes to 20-minutes.
Elevate (Android, iOS): The app creates a personalized training program of games to address skill areas you want to develop to become more productive and self-confident..
Happier (Android, iOS): The app combines gratitude journaling with mindfulness activities along with an extended support community.
Headspace (Android, iOS): The app delivers 10-minute mediation segments. Fun fact – Ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe co-founded Headspace in 2010 – talk about street cred.
Pocket Yoga (Android, iOS): The app allows you to get your yoga practice on anywhere, at a variety of levels.
Stop, Breathe & Think (Android, iOS): The app encourages users to use mediation to develop compassion and mindfulness.
As always, I encourage you to read the fine print to understand any associated charges, subscription options and system requirements before you download anything. Some of these apps are free, but others have a fee. Please don’t come looking for me if things get crucial up in your respective app store (or on your cell phone bill).
Engineer Your Bliss Challenge: Try out one new app from the list above to intentionally enhance your mindfulness.
Is there a meditation or mindfulness app that you simply cannot live without? Please share your comments below.
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