Meditation is ideal for when you’re feeling anxious or just want to be more centered. Think of it as an exercise for your brain. Just as you need to get your blood flowing, your heart pumping, and your muscles engaged, your brain needs to pause in order to become stronger. Meditation is a beautiful practice in and of itself that allows you to feel calmer and more thoughtful, but it can also have incredibly positive effects on your focus, mood, and energy levels.
Meditation apps are a no-brainer (ha!) because they let you meditate on the go, and are quick, easy, and effective. You can meditate during your commute, over your lunch break, or in a more traditional setting on a yoga mat or cushion in your home. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to just do it, and these apps make meditating easier than ever. The question then becomes, what app should you choose? Here, we break down the pros and cons of two of the most popular — Headspace and Calm — so you can make the best decision for you.
What You’ll Get From Headspace
Headspace ($70 per year after a free trial) is an app that, just like Calm, makes meditation and sleep much simpler. Its motto is to promote living “a healthier, happier, more well-rested life in just a few minutes a day,” and from the get-go, you can appreciate the app’s straightforward nature and simplicity.
As soon as you open the app in the morning, you’re greeted by “The Wake Up,” a fun video that’s designed to help you set the tone for your day. As you scroll, you’ll find “Today’s Mindful Moment,” a proverb or mantra-like piece of text. Further on, there’s a written story from someone in the Headspace community, with a response from Headspace’s cofounder Andy Puddicombe. Once you get started, you’ll find your recent meditations on this front page, in case you want to jump back in. At the beginning, all of this content is pretty interesting, but it can make the app’s interface seem less intuitive when you just want to get your meditation on.
