The COVID-19 pandemic means we’re living in a time when the world around us is changing very fast. This can lead to stress and anxiety as our brains struggle to keep up.

We’ll be relieved when lockdown restrictions are lifted and we can start seeing friends and family, going to the pub, and travelling again. But this may bring a new set of challenges as we struggle to adjust.

With that in mind, this selection of my top tried-and-tested meditation and mindfulness apps may help you cultivate a calmer mindset for weathering the good and the bad of your post-lockdown life.

1. Headspace

Headspace is a very meditation-focussed app so it’s ideal if this is something you want to get into. The 30-day meditation courses mean you can really give time to any specific issues you might be struggling with. 

It’s one of the more expensive apps on this list, but its variety of courses (with everything from focus to coping with stress) justifies the price.

Features

• Guided meditation courses for a variety of levels. 

• Inspiring content every morning with the ‘Wake Up’ option

• Sleep music and stories

How much?

£9.99 per month or £49.99 per year

Free trial 

7 days for a monthly plan or 14 days for an annual plan (Note: there is a free version you can keep using after the trial has ended which includes a limited but useful selection of content).

Available to download on the App Store and Google Play.

2. Happy Not Perfect

Happy Not Perfect is fun and interactive, so it’s well-suited to mindfulness beginners. I’ve found it to be the best app for giving your mood a boost in the shortest time!

Features

• Daily happiness workout

• Short mindfulness moments with the ‘Daily Dose’

• Meditation sessions 

How much? 

$9.99 per month or $59.99 per year

Free trial

3 days

Available to download on the App Store and Google Play.

3. Calm

Calm would definitely be my ‘value for money’ pick! Despite it’s cheap price, it has an impressive range of features. I enjoyed trying a bit of everything, including the breathing exercises, movement sequences, sleep stories and meditation courses to figure out a mindfulness routine that really suited me.

Features

• Daily reflections

• Meditation sessions - single sessions and courses

• Breathing exercises and movement sequences

• Sleep music and stories

How much?

£28.99 per year (limited time offer)

Free trial

7 days

Available to download on the App Store and Google Play.

4. Reflectly

Are you interested in mindfulness but struggling with meditation? If so, journaling could be a way for you to improve your self-awareness and become more present. The Reflectly app is an easy way to get started with ready-made prompts!

Features

• Intelligent daily journal prompting

• Mood tracker and statistics

• Motivational quotes

How much?

$9.99 per month or $59.99 per year

Free trial

7 days

Available to download on the App Store and Google Play.

5. Anxiety Solution

This app is based on the book The Anxiety Solution: A Quieter Mind, a Calmer You by Chloe Brotheridge. It was helpful to me as someone who gets a lot of anxious thoughts, but if this doesn’t resonate with you, take a look at some of the more generic apps listed above.

Features

• 28-day interactive course

• Morning and evening reflections

• Single meditation sessions

• Yoga and HIIT

How much?

£35.99 per year or £5.99 per month

Free trial

3 days

Available to download on the App Store (with an Android version coming soon).

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Written by Florence Edwards