Meditation is one of the best ways to relax, unwind, and soothe those racing thoughts. Keeping stress levels down is especially important in the midst of these difficult times. But if you're not yet sure how to relax in the chaos of everyday life, your smartphone can save the day. That's right, you can download some awesome meditation apps to help you relax and literally tap into your inner zen.
Below are some of our top picks.
Related: 5 WAYS TO FIT MEDITATION INTO YOUR BUSY DAY
1. HEADSPACE
Operating System: iOS and Android
Price: $12.99/month (7-day free trial)
Of all the meditation apps, Headspace offers the widest variety of meditations. From heavily guided sessions for beginners to less-structured programming for pros, Headspace has a user interface that's friendly to every type of meditator. Speaking of the app's UI, it's far more superior to that of its competitors. Headspace's homepage is uncluttered, offering users ease of navigation with organization by topic and a color-coordinated grid.
2. CALM
Operating System: iOS and Android
Price: $69.99/year (7-day free trial)
Calm is a great app for more experienced meditators as it offers more open-ended sessions. So if you're looking for plenty of guidance, you won't find many courses geared toward beginners. But what Calm lacks in beginner-friendliness it makes up for in unique features, including ambient music, sleep guidance, and Apple Health integration.
3. 10% HAPPIER
Operating System: iOS and Android
Price: $99.99/year (7-day free trial)
If you're a total beginner in meditation, then 10% Happier might be the perfect meditation app for you. 100% Happier comes with a tour guide, unlike other mindfulness apps. The app also offers many courses taught by well-known meditation teachers. One of the teachers, Dan Harris, is a news anchor who had a panic attack on live TV. He took to meditation to help ease his anxiety. 10% Happier's 7-day-free offering called the Basics, taught by Harris, features a one-week orientation to mindfulness. Each day includes an introductory video and a meditation.
Go check out one of these impressive apps to boost your meditation experience. There's always an app out there for every personality, preference, and difficulty level.