The Best Apps for Mindful Living
Image by Sarah Dorweiler
Whether you find yourself completely immersed in the mindful living movement or in the beginning stages, feel better knowing that no one said you have to go in alone. Transitioning to a new lifestyle can be difficult and might leave you facing a number of ethical dilemmas. Good news for you! There are a number of apps out there that can assist with all of your ethical woes during party season and keep you on track throughout your journey. Here are a few that I found to be the most supportive:
1. Done Good
DoneGood is an app available for iOS and Android that outlines ethical brands to keep you on track with living a more mindful lifestyle. Now available as a browser extension for Google Chrome, DoneGood lets you determine how you want to shop and which causes you want to support. You can narrow your search to include the businesses that give back, practice green production, support workers, are vegan or cruelty-free, non-GMO and organic, female-founded/owned, support diversity, and other ethical qualifiers. Users can shop men's and women's clothes, shoes, home decor, gifts, travel, and etc. The app makes shopping effortless for ethical shoppers and those wanting to transition to a more thoughtful lifestyle.
2. Happy Cow
For all the veggie lovers, HappyCow is the app for you. Also available for iOS and Android users, HappyCow puts all the healthy food options right in your back pocket. You can search for vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly restaurants and health stores all within the app!
So in the event that you don't want to slave over a hot stove this Memorial Day weekend, HappyCow will help you find a veggie-friendly restaurant and appropriate suggestions with a simple search. You can read reviews for local hot spots, submit recipes, view travel guides, and even read up on the benefits of a having plant-based diet! HappyCow is a veggie lover's dream! It makes health and wellness fool-proof and accessible to all.
3. Act of Random Kindness
Act of Random Kindness (ARK) is an interactive app that encourages you to complete acts of random kindness, either for strangers or family members. You can establish how many acts you'd like to complete in a day within the app. It's designed to challenge you, as some acts are timed and result in rewards. You can share your ARK on social media to give others ideas on how they, too, can spread kindness. You can track your progress and join the mission to change the world by promoting positivity with your small acts, as set out by Change our World for Good. The app is available for download on iOS and Android devices.
4. Calm
Calm is a mindfulness-based app featuring soundscapes, meditative courses, and challenges, as well as highly revered sleep stories told by some of the world’s most sought-after figures. Created in 2012, the Calm app makes practicing mindfulness easy for the often absent-minded. You can set notifications for mood, sleep, gratitude, and reflection check-ins. With the touch of your fingertip, you can practice mindfulness at work, pick up a new breathing exercise and get premium yoga classes. If you’re stressed, take a deep breath and add the Calm to your toolbox. The proclaimed #1 App for Meditation and Sleep is — you guessed it — available for Android and Apple users!
Don’t be afraid to give these nifty tools a try if you’ve just pulled up to the “higher consciousness” scene. Take it day by day, without judgment or fear. There’s no pressure. After all, we’re all learning and students of life.. right?!