While most people read or play music to pass the time, the app forced me to stay in the moment. That’s precisely what I did on day two of testing this app - as soon as I got on the subway, I popped in my earplugs to meditate. Just think of the benefits of stepping onto the train to de-stress! I can’t even imagine just how lovely the New York City subway would be if everyone listened to a meditation while on it. You can meditate anywhere, even on your morning commute. RELATED: Single-Tasking: The Secret to Less Stress, More Productivity 3. Picture the possibilities if I had them closed. And confessional side note, I didn’t really get over the fear of a co-worker thinking I was sleeping. ![]() ![]() (Hint: writing this story.) While I don’t think that calm and concentrated vibe lasted through the remainder of the day, it was definitely a welcomed break. Without the distraction of emails, Slacks or chats gone wild, I did manage to walk out of the room ready to take on the next task. Concentrating on just one sensation certainly helped bring me into the moment. A voice with an Australian accent told me to roll my shoulders down, relax and tune into how my hands felt. While it took me a minute to get over my fear that someone would see my eyes closed and think I was sleeping, I quickly pressed play and settled into my five minutes of peacefulness. I chose “at work,” which opened up a few more options from which I selected “ improve focus.” (Within the work category, you can also opt for “lunch break,” “ stressed,” “frustrated” or “work break.”) I sat in a small conference room to listen. In Simple Habit’s “on the go” feature, a wheel of meditations lets you choose based on the activity you’re doing - commuting, walking, etc. A midday mindfulness sesh can boost productivity. Lesson learned: Actually having a wellness-boosting task on the schedule - complete with reminders - will get you to do it. (Have you sensed the distracted theme yet?) The next day I decided that I’d add “meditate!” to my calendar every morning for the next seven days, and I could adjust on the fly if I wanted to listen to the app on the way to work or after leaving the office. And that’s mostly because it just slipped my mind. But with a busy day at work, followed by events and sleepiness, I made it to whopping Day Three before messing up my plan. I knew I wanted to try to meditate for at least a few consecutive days to feel the effects. Scheduling a meditation really helps you stick to it. Photo courtesy for Simple Habit 5 Things I Learned from Using a Meditation App 1. RELATED: 9 Mantras to Find Zen from Gabrielle Bernstein’s New Book Here’s what I learned after trying the app for a little over a week. But a five-minute solo session? Totally doable, I thought. I was in that same boat, only able to get through a lengthy meditation when fully submerged in a studio setting. “One common mistake beginner meditators make is setting the bar too high - like committing to 30 minutes of meditation every morning.” While an admirable goal, she says, it’s easy to miss a day and get discouraged. “At Simple Habit, we believe that starting with just five minutes of daily meditation is the easiest entry point into a lifelong meditation practice,” she says. Founded by an entrepreneur who started meditating to deal with her own work-related stress, Yunha Kim had discovered that a few quick bouts of mindfulness each day tipped her mental scale toward zen. The idea behind Simple Habit (free on iOS and Android) is, well, pretty simple: Listen to the short, guided meditations throughout the day to gain a calmer, more in-the-moment mindset - aka exactly what I needed to get focused. RELATED: Meditation Meets HIIT in New Mindful Fitness Approach Simple Habit: A Meditation App for People on the Move But I was ready for some extra tech-spiration. I’ve also signed up for more yoga classes than ever. I try to eat my dinner at least a few nights a week sans Gilmore Girls - that way I can taste my food without distraction. I occasionally listen to a Buddhify meditation before I go to sleep. This wouldn’t be my first attempt at powering up my mindfulness skills. ![]() RELATED: 40 Resources for Practicing Mindfulness Every Day (Because I was listening closely that time!) So when my editor asked if anyone wanted to try a new five-minute meditation app, Simple Habit, I quickly raised my hand. The first step is realizing you have a problem though, right? I’ve caught myself thinking more about what my Instagram caption will be than actually experiencing the intensity of my workout or savoring every sip of my Bloody Mary. Naturally, I’d like to blame social media for this lack of attention span. Maybe you’ve been here, too: When a comment or question requires your response mid convo, and you have to resort to the lame (and obviously distracted) nod and smile. Over the last few months, I’ve noticed just how much my mind wanders.
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