Being a business owner or entrepreneur can be stressful. In today’s fast-paced world, it often feels like there’s never a moment to slow down. Allowing stress to build up over time can lead to burnout, which can negatively impact your health, including your immune system and sleep. That’s why managing stress is so crucial for your physical and mental health.
One of our favourite ways to manage stress is through meditation. In our previous post, we discussed how meditation can be a powerful tool for stress relief and shared a technique you can try. But, if you’re just getting started, it might feel a bit overwhelming. So, we’ve created a list of our favourite meditation apps to help you get started with guided meditation and keep stress in check.
Headspace
Headspace is an app that provides guided meditation, mindfulness tools, mental health coaching and therapy.
With over 40 million users, it offers a wide range of structured videos and courses, ranging from guided meditation sessions, podcasts, breathing exercises and beyond. Providing over hundreds of meditation sessions at different levels (beginner, intermediate, pro) and durations, they can target specific areas of mental health such as stress, sleep, focus, and anxiety.
Research shows that Headspace is more than just popular — it’s effective. One study found that users of Headspace experienced a 12% decrease in stress levels in just 10 days by following the guided meditation sessions. Another study found that after 30 days of using the app, users reported reduced stress levels by a third.
If you want to give it a try, Headspace offers a monthly subscription for £9.99 a month with a 7-day free trial or an annual subscription for £49.99 with a 14-day free trial. They also have free resources on YouTube.
Calm
Calm offers a mix of guided meditations, relaxation exercises, soundscapes, and sleep stories to help you sleep better, stress less, and live mindfully.
The app’s guided content is led by clinical experts and meditation teachers and is organised into categories that make it easy to find what you need, whether that’s a stand-alone session or a full course. They also send daily reminders to help you stay on track with your sessions and allow you to track your progress with meditation streaks.
Unlike Headspace, Calm offers a free version with a limited number of exercises available. Their premium plan is priced at £39.99 annually with a 14-day free trial, which gives you access to the entire library of sessions, exercises, soundscapes, and sleep stories to follow.
10% Happier
If you’re new to meditation, 10% Happier is a great app to start with. It is made for mindfulness with over 500 guided meditations to choose from.
The app features a search function to easily explore various topics, including a dedicated collection for beginners and skeptics. You can choose from specific courses and optimised exercises designed for different times of the day, such as morning gratitude practices or afternoon energy boosts. Meditation sessions range from 3 to 15 minutes or longer, allowing you to seamlessly integrate them into your daily routine. What truly sets 10% Happier apart are its live group classes, where you can ask questions in real-time, making it a great choice for beginners.
You can try the app with a free trial for 7 days, followed by a subscription of $8.33 (£6.21) per month or $99.99 (£75.06) per year.
Superhuman
For those with a packed schedule but still want to get in a quick meditation session, Superhuman is an excellent option. Driven by a mission to help you live your future now, it aims to improve your life and mental health for the better.
With over 600 motivation and affirmation audios and meditations known as “activations”, you can listen while doing daily tasks like making coffee or walking. The app offers activations in 16 categories and creates custom playlists based on your interests and goals, which are different lengths to suit your needs.
Superhuman claims that 91% of people felt a shift after trying their first activation and 74% experienced a life-altering transformation in 90 days. This highlights its effectiveness in improving mental health and enhancing the lives of its users.
You can try Superhuman for free for 14 days, and after that, it’s $29.99 (£22.55) per month or $199.99 (£150.40) per year.
Each app brings something unique to the table, whether you’re looking for a short meditation session or a full course for a deep dive into mindfulness. Whichever app you choose, they’re all great tools to help you manage stress and prioritise your mental health. Try out one of the apps above and discover how meditation can make a difference in your life.
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