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Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

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Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#21

Post by stranded22 »

I've used headspace almost everyday for meditation for years - I used to do there programmes but now just do the daily meditation. And every night, I put on the sleep stories. I also put on pooch palace sleep story for my son each night.

Absolutely love it - well worth the money for me.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#22

Post by tchock23 »

anon2020dot00 wrote: post #4

Tried it (Calm, Headspace) several times but it didn't really work for me; what worked for me instead is just using Otter.AI to make voice memos and so that helped me to get things out of my head.

Same here. I fire up Otter during longer car rides and it’s great for just dumping out thoughts and clearing my mind.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#23

Post by gunfighthacksaw »

maroonblazer wrote: post #15

After trying Headspace and Calm I settled on the app Waking Up[0] and have been using it for a couple of years now. It's been a huge help. It's a lot more than just a guided meditation app. While you can get some benefits from simply practicing meditation, it can feel a bit aimless. What I like about Waking Up is the conversations with experienced meditators where they talk about the practice itself. These serve as a…

> While you can get some benefits from simply practicing meditation, it can feel a bit aimless

Isn’t that… the point of meditation?

Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#24

Post by mckirk »

hoherd wrote: post #19

I got the most lasting value out of the free UCLA Marc guided meditation sessions[0] which now have an app. When I first used them years ago it was only a list of recordings on a web page. In that time I've tried a few of the other apps that have popped up, and was grandfathered into the Waking Up lifetime membership, but I always think that MARC gave me more lasting benefit than, for instance, the guided meditations…

Oh cool, I'd almost forgotten about those guided meditations! I used to listen to them a fair bit, not sure what happened to that habit. But good to know that they have an app now, thanks for the info!

Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#25

Post by skilled »

I've always held a strong opinion about meditation apps, especially something like Headspace, which was founded by an ex-Buddhist. And, the fact that these apps also charge _money_ is just dumb. The strawman argument is that, "Yeah, but some people need guidance.". Which doesn't make any sense. You have to learn to guide yourself.

For a lot of people, these apps are an excuse to go and poster themselves as "spiritually aligned", "woke" and all kinds of other nonsense. And yet they fail to sit down with themselves, completely unplugged, and find that moment of peace that will come once the mind slows down.

Those scientific benefits can be achieved without apps. They just throw that stuff in your face to make you pay them money for a service that doesn't need paying for. Seriously.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#26

Post by chrisshroba »

I did Headspace daily for awhile and want to get back to it. Even though I don't do it daily or even regularly anymore, it made me infinitely more aware of how I can deal with stress and other negative emotions by slowing down, focusing on my breath for a couple minutes, and taking a break from the dramatic and spiraling emotions that can feel so consuming. I now find myself subconsciously calming myself by regulating my breath when I'm in an argument or feeling great distress or grief.

It's been a nice positive in my life :)

Re: Ask HN: Have you had any real benefits from apps like Headspace, Fabulous, etc?

#27

Post by taeric »

For those that do find these useful, do you have a mental image? The "close your eyes and focus your attention on something" just falls very flat for me. I did have a decent experience with counting things. Breaths, steps, pedals, stairs, etc. That said, I don't really think I can claim any lasting improvement from anything. (Besides the exercise...)
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