Putting your mental health as a priority is crucial, especially during these challenging times. With apps like Black Lotus, it is easy to help your body, mind, and soul heal.
Most of us get caught up in our day-to-day lives, completing tasks, achieving targets, checking off items on our to-do list, to a point where we are zapped and have no energy by the end of the day. Not only are we racing against the clock, but we also have literally no time for ourselves. It is, therefore, crucial to take breaks, to spend some time every day on oneself, and focus on self-care and mental health.
While many people now identify self-care with luxury face masks and cutting-edge relaxation techniques, self-care simply refers to any activity that we engage in to care for our mental, emotional, and physical health, including the activities listed above. On that note, self-care is not just about setting aside 10 mins for yourself, it could take longer and differs from person to person. Something as simple as a short session of mindful meditation as part of the morning routine might help some sail through the day with ease, while others might achieve the same with a run or walk in the park.
Being busy is good, but with the pandemic and uncertainty all around us, we are stressed out and on the edge all the time. The only way to deal with the tension, and pressures is to meditate. Meditation is the practice of being still, at the moment and training our mind to focus on the present. Yes, our minds will wander and all kinds of thoughts will come our way, especially ones related to work, or children, or a pending task, but with time and practice, you will be able to achieve peace and calm.
Quite a few know they need to press the pause button and meditate but are lost on where to start or how to go about it. We have put together a list of five medication apps that are not only popular but effective and worthy of a try. Let’s get started.
1. MyLife
It is the perfect app for those who forget to pause and breathe. MyLife meditation app is a very effective personal guide that helps you be in the present. The beauty of this app is you choose sessions based on your mood [which is fed into the app through a survey around your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing]. The sessions are short and give you just what you need to achieve peace of mind before returning to your routine. Sessions are available in English & Spanish.
Download it for iPhone and Android
Cost: FREE, or upgrade for as little as $4.91/month.
2. Simple Habit
A customizable app that is more than just about meditation. You can sign up on the Simple habit app to help boost your self-confidence, fight anxiety, deal with a difficult relationship, get over a breakup, or simply learn to live in the present. You can customize the app based on your interests and focus areas -stress management, eating disorders, sleeping well, or thinking positively. They have “on the go” sessions which you can do while traveling, or during breaks at work, or before you wind up for the day.
Download it for iPhone and Android
Cost: FREE, or upgrade for $11.99/month, $89.99/year, or $299.99 for lifetime access.
3. Black Lotus
One of our favorite meditation apps, especially for beginners, is Black Lotus. The beauty of this app is that it is backed by behavioral science and goes beyond feel-good meditation. The app provides a framework called R.A.R.E ( Reflect. Act. Reinforce. Evaluate) to help users be more mindful, kind, and happy in their daily lives. Black Lotus app is centered around self-improvement and mindfulness. If you follow the programs for 21days, you will see visible results. It is result-oriented and therefore easy for the user to measure the results. Founded by renowned Indian monk Om Swami, the app improves the quality of life through improved emotional well-being, anger management, healthier relationships, and gratitude.
Download it for iPhone and Android
Cost: FREE.
4. Unplug
If you have five minutes, then you have enough time to make a difference in your life. Unlike other apps, Unplug uses video format along with the audio to help you connect better with your instructors. There are guided sessions apart from the option where users can self-direct and set a timer, choose music, and meditate. It’s ideal for when you need to regain focus and de-stress at the workplace as it requires only a few minutes. You can set wellness goals and track progress through the app. If you are ready to make the commitment, you can sign up for their 30-day challenge to turn meditation into a routine and see what a difference it makes to your life.
Download it for iPhone and Android
Cost: You get a 7-day free trial when signing up. For full access to the app, you choose between $12.99/month or $69.99/year.
5. Calm
The Calm app is a comprehensive mindfulness app that includes guided meditations, music to help you focus, relax, or sleep, and video courses on mindful movement and stretching, among other self-care activities. Calm also has a selection of sleep stories narrated by celebrities like Stephen Fry and Matthew McConaughey. You will initially be asked a few questions about the reason for downloading the app – “reduce anxiety”, “gratitude”, “build self-esteem” and so on. Therein, you have access to an extensive library and the app suggests exercises and meditation programs for you. The app makes meditation and being mindful a fun activity.
Download it for iPhone and Android
Cost: FREE, or upgrade for $14.99/month or $69.99/year
Thank you for reading our guide. We sure hope it was helpful and gave you an idea of the available apps to kick start your journey towards self-care and better mental health. We wish you strength and peace on your path. Feel free to test them all out to determine which one is the best fit for you and in case you find something apart from these, do share it with us.
