***Disclaimer – All opinions in this article are my own opinions***
Meditation
Feeling anxious? Struggling to sleep at night? Given all that is going on in the world right now, that is totally normal and you are not alone. Personally I have struggled, for a number of years, with anxiety and problems falling asleep at night so I had been directed to try out some meditation apps at night before I go to sleep. This is something that is really easy to use as we all have phones readily available to us and most of us spend our evenings scrolling Facebook or Instagram. Why not try meditating before bed instead of looking through all of the negativity that is posted on social media.
Here are my 5 picks for the best meditations apps that I have found.
Photo from Calm
1. Calm
Just as the name implies, Calm is an incredible app to help you calm and centre yourself. This app has been downloaded more than 50 million times and has won numerous awards. One thing I really enjoy about this app is the fact that you can do daily meditations or you can customize based on your goals. You can learn how to meditate with Calm. They also have music, so if you’re cleaning the house or making supper, you can listen to some nice calming music. Something else I really like about this app is that they have a kids section too! If you have young kids who suffer with anxiety, this is really beneficial for helping them learn to meditate before bed, tests, anything that makes them anxious. This app is free; however, there are in app purchases. You could purchase a monthly or yearly subscription.
2. Headspace
Headspace has self-guided courses and quick meditations. A neat feature of Headspace is the Move Mode. The website describes Move Mode – Train your body and your mind at the same time with exercises to strengthen your mental and physical well-being. Headspace is available for a monthly or yearly subscription. With a monthly subscription you will get your first week free and then it will be $12.99/month after that. With a yearly subscription you will get your first two weeks free and then the cost is $69.99/year after that.
Photo from Aura Health
3. Aura
Aura is a great app to use if you are a person who is always on the go. From 3 minute tracks to hour long tracks, Aura has a number of different options for people on the go. From mindfulness meditations, stories, life coaching, and much more, Aura has something for everyone and for every situation. Aura is free; however, it does have in app purchases. Monthly will cost you $11.99 and yearly will cost you $94.99. There is also a lifetime option which will cost you $399.99.
4. Smiling Mind
This app is really great for the entire family. At Smiling Mind, their vision is to Help Every Mind Thrive. One thing that I love about this company is that they know how important mental health is with today’s youth, and so their goal is to reach 5 million children and young people by 2021! The other thing I love about this app is that it is free.
Photo From 10 Percent Happier
5. Ten Percent Happier
New to meditating? Ten Percent Happier is perfect for you with guided meditations and practical teachings – all at your fingertips. Ten Percent Happier has expert teachers that will actually respond to any questions you may have and to help walk you through the basics of meditating. This app is based on the New York Times bestselling book Ten Percent Happier by Dan Harris. The cost of this app is $100/year with a one-week free trial.
