Headspace

Headspace, created and developed by Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson, is an app to teach meditation and mindfulness. The goal of the creators is to help everyday people find health and happiness.

Why choose this app now when the world is getting over the pandemic? We’ve all spent a year dealing with the stress and tension of the virus. Some have thrived. Others have not. I opted for a medication app at the year mark because change is coming. With the world “returning to normal,” we all will need to change our routines again. No more sitting around in my yoga pants all day. Back to taxiing kids, running errands, and seeing people. I’m not a complete introvert, but being around people again will be a challenge for me. I think the world is going to get very busy, very soon. A medication skill might be useful in light of the recent changes.

Hence the choice of Headspace. Check it out.

Inside the app, users will find different types of medication and mindfulness exercises. These are short audios or videos that guide users through a variety of relaxation and reflective activities. There are health articles, celebrity commentaries, exercise guides, sleep assistance, and stress reducers. The courses and exercises are easy to follow with a choice of speakers for some. The app tracks progress through courses chosen. There is also an everyday meditation to follow. Most are 3-5 minutes while the relaxation and focus exercises/courses are longer. The range of options and ease of use make the app versatile for different users.

The app with works on most mobile devices (iOS and Android) and several browsers including Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Headspace is subscription-based. A yearly contract will cost $70 a year ($5.83 a month) or a monthly fee of $13 a month. Each plan has a free period, but you must subscribe to get the free trial. (I rarely suggest apps that require payment unless they are specifically designed for writers like Scrivener and Aeon Timeline.) For Headspace, the yearly plan has 14 days free and the monthly, 7 days. There are also options for businesses to purchase a subscription for employees at a group discount.