My Favorite Meditation App: Smiling Mind

I’ve found my new favorite meditation app! It’s called Smiling Mind. Smiling Mind is a non-for-profit web and app-based meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into your life.

A couple months ago, I was on the hunt for a book to help me launch a meditation practice. I bought this one and really liked it at first. I enjoyed learning about the rationale for meditation in your life. But then I just couldn’t stay engaged.

I started searching for an app instead. There are so many different ones to choose from! I landed on Smiling Mind because it seemed like it would teach me meditation, not just guide me through it. And it is living up to its promises!

I just finished the “Intro to Mindfulness” program. It was 6 short sessions. Now I’m about to embark on the Mindfulness Foundations program. It’s 41 lessons. Each session ranges from 1 minute all the way up to 45 minutes for an extended meditation. Most of them seem to be about 5-8 minutes.

The program also asks you questions each time you log in to help you check-in with yourself. Like how connected are you feeling to others? Or how much stress are you experiencing?

I seem to be able to make myself do a nightly routine approximately twice a week. I turn on “New Age Essentials” on Pandora, start a timer for five minutes, and do some basic yoga/stretching. Then I move into my mindfulness work. It doesn’t take long, but it feels so good.