Headspace: A Gym Membership for Your Mind

When your friends ask you out to go spoon-thumbing, do you say: "no no, I would rather drift down rivers of lucidity and explore the vast, recursive landscapes of my mind than thumb your damn spoons." Or do you wish for nothing more than to expel putrid waste from the bowels of your brain? Are you looking for an extra 94.4 MB to add on your phone? Well in that very specific case, I have the exact thing you're looking for! Check out the audio-guided mindfulness app Headspace!

Headspace offers a wide selection of free audio recordings, guiding you through the process, level by level, of learning and practicing what mindfulness is really all about. The coolest thing about the app is that it includes cute, introductory animations for each session that explain the science behind what the mind is experiencing. In fact, the app sort of 'demystifies' the concept of meditation. There's the notion that meditation is inherently a religious practice, but really it's just an exercise of cleansing the mind. In my experience, I am easily overwhelmed with emotions such as stress or anxiety, so by taking just 3-10 minutes every day to do absolutely nothing but observe, I've developed a deeper sense of awareness and ability to calm myself when waves crash. The three areas that are said to noticeably shift over the course of their 10 minute/10 day training program are the body, thoughts, and emotions. It challenges you to pay attention to these shifts and how your growth of mindful awareness changes your experience of everyday life. I would highly recommend this app if you're interested in learning about and practicing the benefits of mindfulness.