Headspace is a brilliant app. I also use the Endel app for sleep sounds.
Mindfulness has been a lifesaver for me, especially at work, where my stress levels were reaching critical and my health was taking a hit.
Iād also recommend the book āThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***ā by Mark Manson. Silly title aside, itās actually a good book that will help you to change how you see the world for the better.
Itās called āpracticeā because thatās what you need to do. Practice it when youāre OK so you can do it when youāre not, and really need it. A bit like a footballer taking hundreds of penalties on the empty training ground so itās second nature to them when itās the World Cup Final and millions are watching.
When it works for me I love it, but my brain is and always has been like speaking spaghetti. So I really need to practice more butā¦
I have found group medication/mindfulness the best. Something about not being able to go āsod this!ā and stop is really helpful. I have often been to my local Buddhist temple for the beginnerās night for this, but there are lots of non-religious groups around. Again, this helps with your practice when youāre on your own and in need. (Although I have Buddhist tendencies Iām not into organised religion at all, and my local group are not preachy at all, you donāt even need to stay for the cuppa afterwards if you donāt want to!)
As for apps. I found the manās voice in Headspace to Jamie Oliver for me. I donāt need the guide to be my mate! Calm is good but they seem to explain why itās useful before every mediation and I donāt need that - Iām convinced! Balance is really good and itās free for a year, or at least was until recently.
There are also a load of simple timer and/or Buddhist-based apps that are good. Plum Village is free and Buddhist, but there are loads of meditations on there which are about love and kindness and not about how great Buddhism is. If youāre not totally anti itās worth a look.
Practice. It really does work at making life calmer. And it doesnāt have to be a big thing. From practicing using the apps I find that I can switch into it for 30 seconds here, 5 minutes there when Iām sat in a queue, waiting for an appointment, stood outside a shop waiting for my family, and especially when Iām out for a walk - I love dividing on each step, and consciously noticing my surrounding. Youāre not in a trance, youāre mindful of your situation in the here and now, so you can prescribe anywhere.
Iām a better person in myself for persevering with this practice.
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Anarchist
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Breathing exercises donāt really help me either.
Leaves on a Stream helps me to offload and reduce stress. It originates from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is used alongside CBT by psychologists.
As for intuition, Iām not sure, Iād imagine having a clear mind helps, so any mindfulness will.
Wrong about a person or something else? Weāve all been there, humans can be quite disappointing.
The bigger question is whether these techniques and methods will even work for you. Youāve said that youāve done some mindfulness, so maybe it will. Some people just canāt do it, you need a very visual mind - some people just canāt visualise.
In fact, I know at least one person who literally canāt visualise anything in their mind. You could describe an object to them and ask them to imagine it, and they just canāt. Apparently, millions of people canāt visualise in their mind, itās a thing.