Over the past eight months, I've had fun being the obnoxious guy who tells everyone he meditates every day.
Ever since I decided to try out the guided-meditation app Headspace last December after hearing about it on Tim Ferriss' podcast, I've been much more aware of my thoughts and emotions, and with a few exceptions (including a rough day at the airport) I've been much calmer and more collected in times of stress.
I've dealt with occasionally intense anxiety since I was 11 years old, so that's an accomplishment.
Headspace isn't a hippy-dippy placebo; it's a straightforward teacher that helps you learn the basics of breathing and visualization associated with secular meditation.
The company reports it has 8.5 million active users, and this includes Wall Streeters, Olympic athletes, and celebrity executives like Arianna Huffington and Richard Branson. Companies like Goldman Sachs and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have bought package subscriptions for employees. The app is free to download, but a subscription unlocks full access to all of its lessons.
After using it for so long, I've gotten to a point where it's become an essential part of my daily routine. Below, I'll break down what it's like to use.
Headspace was founded by Rich Pierson, left, and Andy Puddicombe in 2012. Puddicombe was formally trained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk during a 10-year excursion in his 20s. Headspace's lessons are secularized versions of exercises Puddicombe studied.
Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images
Puddicombe is your Headspace teacher. He appears periodically in video tutorials to give you a bit of extra insight. I've become very familiar with his English-accented voice!
Headspace/YouTube
When you begin Headspace, you have access to the 30-day Foundation pack, which introduces you to the basics of guided meditation.
Headspace
After going through the first 30 days, you can access the rest of the exercises through a subscription.
I signed up for the year subscription, which now goes for $96, though you may find some promo codes floating around for a discount.
It's certainly not cheap, but if you take it as $8 a month, it's worth it for a daily user.
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