How to make the most of your meditation apps
Ilustration by Julia Zipporah. Our nonprofit generates funding in multiple ways, including through affiliate linking. When you purchase something through an affiliate link on this site, the price will be the same for you as always, but we may receive a small percentage of the cost.
by Kanishka Nangare
There are a lot of meditation apps out there — finding what works is about optimizing your approach
Meditation teaches us how to center our thoughts, control our nervous systems, and find calm in the storms of life. What began as a spiritual awakening practice thousands of years ago is now regarded as a healing essential for every aspect of life and related wellness.
The reason? Its astonishing and compounding effects. Meditation works on a molecular level, increasing dopamine (the reward hormone) and melatonin (regulates the sleep-wake cycle) while reducing cortisol levels (stress hormone), and generally enhancing our state of being. Just 10 minutes of daily meditation can mitigate negative mental health symptoms, like those associated with depression, while strengthening resilience.
Despite the powerful effects meditation has on many, this age-old, transformative practice is simple at its core. Yet a lot of us struggle to fully grasp its potency and weave it into our lives.
Enter: meditation and mindfulness apps, designed to make meditation a part of your on-the-go routine.
Many of these apps are comprehensive and easy to navigate. You’ll need to find the app that resonates with you and your lifestyle in a way that keeps you coming back, but you’ll also need to tweak your own brain settings to get the most out of even the most fitting meditation app.
Here are some tips for doing just that:
Be open to exploration and learning (especially about yourself)
I started meditating because I was angry most of the time. I worked fifteen hours a day with two tiny breaks that gave me barely enough time to use the bathroom. My daily venting sessions with a friend didn’t help and I was desperate for a healthier channel (or another friend).
Julia Zipporah
On a deeper level, I was yearning for emotional stability. But as I began meditating, I discovered that my instability was stemming from impatience. This realization came to me after a moving meditation when I wanted to walk frantically, not softly and mindfully as the app instructed.
According to Maria Cortes-Graham, a meditation and mindfulness coach, “You can gain significant insights about yourself when you meditate. Once we start a meditation practice, we notice what areas of life need improvement,” she says.
Meditation revolves around observation, not scrutiny. So let go of judgment and focus on what you see. Self-discovery is the name of the game, not shame.
Pro tip: If you want to learn about meditation, read the resource or blog section offered by the apps you’re evaluating. Many of them, like Calm and Ten Percent Happier, offer courses that can help you dive into the details of meditation.
The first choice isn’t necessarily the best one
You’ve checked the rating, read the reviews, and concluded that this app will make you a serial meditator, but hold up! You might want to give others a chance before you land on a go-to pick. Leverage free trials and get a thorough experience in the initial days to ensure you’re finding the app most suited to your needs and internal settings.
While some apps, like Medito, are entirely free, others, such as Headspace and Waking Up, offer a free trial.
Go beyond the different meditation formats. Dig deep and dig well.
Some things to look out for are:
The user interface (the colors, backgrounds, illustrations, and other aspects of the user experience)
The meditation guide’s voice (how the voice makes you feel matters)
Their motivation strategies (apps generally notify you about your progress and wins, but those kinds of notifications aren’t incentivizing for everyone — you get to decide what works best for you!)
How vocal the meditations are (some guided meditations are too chatty for some while others don’t engage with words quite enough)
Carly Quellman, a multimedia storyteller, tried her share of apps only to stick to two of them.
“The animation and illustration on one app are playful and keep me engaged. And I love the visual presentation of the other one, especially on the desktop. I’m picky about voices and tonal qualities too.”
The key is to keep your senses open and see how your body and mind respond to even the subtlest cues.
Push notifications that will push you to persevere
Julia Zipporah
Let’s face it, unless you’re highly disciplined, healthy habits can be tough to inculcate. After all, we’re human and it takes us time to be intrinsically motivated. Until then, extrinsic motivation works wonders.
If you’re a beginner and desperate to build a meditation routine, you might require a gentle nudge. Most of the apps ask you when you’d like to meditate and notify you at that time. A reminder from an external trigger can help a lot of us to actually follow through. Research has shown that push notifications increase app visits and strengthen habits.
Welcome versatility into your meditation routine
A single meditation can jumpstart your whole routine, but you still might get bored after a few days of the same app. There are enough meditation app options out there to fill a wellness-focused candy store, so add some variety to your toolkit if you’re prone to losing interest. Once you’re aware of which meditations work for you, you can more easily fit them into your ever-changing routine.
When I have a big meeting, I start my day with an affirmation meditation. On days when I feel too tired to function, I do a simple muscle relaxation meditation that helps me sleep better. Check what your body needs at the moment and then choose accordingly. Stay flexible.
On building a diverse meditation library, Quellman says, “I usually have a body scan meditation or a soothing meditation — no longer than 10 minutes. Different meditations give me variety. I need that to not feel like meditations are another part of my to-do list. If I keep it playful and fun, I feel more self-aware during and after the session.”
Pro tip: Some apps, like Smiling Mind, allow you to save your favorite meditations. On days when you’re reluctant to scaffold through new routines, meditate with a saved one that you already know has worked for you in the past.
Julia Zipporah
Make mindful check-ins a part of your routine
Meditation and mindfulness are two sides of the same coin. Both are full of revelations. So pairing your meditation routine with a mindful activity, such as journaling, clarifies how a specific meditation made you feel.
“With meditation, people should choose what works for them; every day is different; every season is different. Find the ones that you can stick to and enjoy doing,” adds Cortes-Graham.
To record the impact of a specific meditation, some apps have simple visuals and emotional check-ins to help remember and translate its effect for you. While meditation apps offer you knowledge, encouragement, and lessons on mindfulness, the deep work is done internally. Approach the apps with an open mind, explore which meditations work for you, and embrace each moment you can along the way.