I used to live life in fast forward—living under the ‘do, do, do’ and ‘go, go, go’ system, hustling, afraid to let the rush die. I was convinced that doing everything fast is a plus, all thanks to the rise and grind society. For years, my mental drawers had full of notes and mountainous piles of plans and schedules that I couldn’t wait to do and accomplish; I had demanding thoughts asking for my time and energy; I was in full speed at getting things done; and I didn’t know what pause means and taking a break was the last thing on my mind. Call it ambitious living, but I was just living the kind of life I only knew back then before I stumbled upon meditation.
To be honest, the word was intimidating for me at first since I was always up for anything without stopping to catch my breath. But, although being head-on has helped me rise in numerous ways, I know that I have to slow down and breathe everything in front of me to live and enjoy the present. I have to convince myself that mental health, like physical, also needs rest. So, with that in mind, I slowly hit the brakes and welcomed the practice of meditating, and I have never looked back.
Bringing awareness to the here and now has given me more spaces to think deeply. As soon as I have learned to look after my mind, I have become more sure of the space I am in; I have learned to sort out my feelings once they start to flood me; I have started to hush judgements and unhealthy inner chatters of self-doubt; and I have become more in control of my emotions and feelings. And by taking care of my mind, I know that I am also being kind to my overall wellness.
Without downplaying the struggles we are all dealing with right now, why not allow yourself minutes of going inward? Try to tune in to your mind and see where it can take you. Below are meditation apps that have been helping me be on my feet since day one. No pressure, checking them out is already a step toward a happier and healthier life.
Headspace
I was drowning with strong waves of emotions and unending list of goals when Headspace threw a lifesaver to help me up. This healthcare company has tools you need to start and continue your walk with meditation, provides conditions (sleep exercises and bedtime sounds) for good nights and better mornings, gives exercises to keep your mind and body in sync, short meditations for emergencies, or occasional quiet moment, and structured courses and practices that help us lift the mental fog. You can also turn on helpful notifications to remind you to pause and catch your breath.
Calm
Just saying the name can make you halt and breathe. If you are not new to meditation and don’t need structured classes, this is the app for you. Calm offers you guided sessions, individual exercises, like a breathing visualization, sleep stories, flexible timers, and a large selection of ambient music to give you better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.
Inscape
Inscape is an extension of a real-world meditation studio in New York City, so you can be certain that their guided practices have truthfully been enhancing lives by finding happiness from within. With its aesthetically pleasing user experience, visually and sonically, this app gives no fuss when it comes to keeping your spirits up the moment you open it. Even on the fly, Inscape can give you the lift you need without making things difficult for you.
With the emerging external factors that tire our minds, perhaps the little resets, short pauses, and deep breaths brought by meditation are what we need to keep ourselves going and on track. What meditation app you are using to help you lift the fog?
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