As an international student, your mind is one of your most important assets. Studying requires a huge amount of mental focus and resilience, particularly when you’re studying online. That’s why it’s so important to care for your mental wellbeing – and a great way to do it is through mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the process of focusing on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment. It has been shown to increase feelings of relaxation, calm and resilience, decrease stress and anxiety, and even improve your sleep.
Want to reap these benefits for yourself? We’ve rounded up 10 of the best mindfulness apps to help you stay mentally well with just a few clicks.
1. Calm
Calm is an award-winning app that focuses on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). In the app, you’ll find a range of guided meditations targeted at different skill levels. You’ll also enjoy a selection of sleep stories narrated by celebrities, breathing exercises and relaxing music.
Pros
- Award-winning
- Optional push reminders to keep you on track
- Large music and ambient soundscape collection
- Customisable
- Daily check-in feature
Cons
- Some content is quite lengthy
- You can’t search meditations by theme or length
- Certain content is more suitable for experienced meditators than for beginners
- Expensive
Cost
AUD$19.99–AUD$23.49 per month or AUD$$59.99–AUD$79.99 per year. A free seven-day trial is available.
2. Headspace
Headspace is packed with resources for improving your mindfulness and sleep quality, lowering stress and refining your meditation skills. Here you’ll find articles, meditation courses, breathing exercises and relaxing visualisations.
Pros
- A huge variety of meditations in a very well-organised library
- Easy to navigate
- Varying levels of guidance depending on your experience
- Optional push reminders to keep you on track
- Quick meditations for when you’re short on time
- Offers yoga and workouts too
Cons
- Free content is limited
- The free trial requires credit card details
Cost
AUD$19.99 per month or AU$91.99 one-time annual payment. A free seven-day trial is available with the monthly plan, while a 14-day free trial is available with the annual plan.
3. Simple Habit
Featured on Shark Tank in 2017, this app helps you get into the daily habit of meditation, with an extensive collection of meditation exercises. No matter your schedule, skill level or goal, there is an exercise here for you (with many taking as little as five minutes to complete!).
Pros
- Quick meditations for when you’re short on time
- Great variety of meditations
- Customisable
- Easy to navigate
- Free to download
- You can use the app offline (with a subscription)
Cons
- There aren’t many longer meditations
- Expensive
Cost
A wide range of membership options are available, ranging from AU$16.99 per month to AU$149 per month.
4. Ten Percent Happier
Ten Percent Happier offers several meditation exercises, guided by a varied roster of mindfulness experts. While most of these exercises are structured as courses, there are some single guided meditations you can opt for if you’re seeking something quick.
Pros
- Relaxed tone
- No-frills meditations
- Short video lessons about mindfulness
- Reminder function to help keep you on track
- Great for beginners
Cons
- No monthly subscription available (only annual)
- Expensive
- Less interactive than other apps
Cost
There is a limited-feature free version and a premium membership option priced at US$99 per year (approximately AU$130). A free trial of premium content is available.
5. Aura: Meditation and Mindfulness
Aura is renowned for its massive selection of content aimed at helping you boost your mindfulness. In its database, you’ll find meditations, sleep stories, cognitive behavioural therapy, life coaching and even hypnosis sessions.
Pros
- Huge library of content
- Easy to navigate
- Some quick meditations for when you’re short on time
- Personalised recommendations powered by artificial intelligence (AI)
Cons
- Very few free features
- With so much content, it can be hard to know where to begin
Cost
US$59.99 per year (approximately AU$80) per year for a basic subscription with upgrade options. A free seven-day trial is available.
6. buddhify
Meditation done differently – that’s the promise of the buddhify app. With a colourful interface and a flexible structure that fits into people’s busiest schedules, buddhify offers meditation practices that can be done on the go.
Pros
- Unique and colourful design
- Designed to fit a busy lifestyle
- Targeted meditations for different situations
- A range of exercises with different durations
- Very low cost
Cons
- No free content; must pay an upfront fee
- Many other apps have a similar range of content
- No desktop version
Cost
The app itself costs AU$7.99 to download. If you want access to premium content, you must purchase a membership priced at AU$40 per year.
7. Smiling Mind
Driven by impact rather than profits, Smiling Mind is a completely free mindfulness app – ideal for a student budget. It features specialised programs targeted at different areas of mental wellness, including sleep, stress, attention and concentration, relationships, mindful eating and more.
Pros
- Highly customisable
- Check-in function to help keep you on track and aware of your progress and mental state
- Not-for-profit
- 100% free
Cons
- The interface is not as slick as some of the other apps
Cost
Free
8. Insight Timer
Insight Timer offers guided meditations, music and talks to help users improve their sleep, relaxation and mindfulness. From stress management to boosting self-esteem and relationships, there are thousands of free tools available for use.
Pros
- Provides access to a global community of meditators
- A huge library of free guided meditations
- Stories, wisdom and inspiration features
- Customisable timer function
Cons
- Due to the sheer volume of content, it can be daunting for beginners
- Certain content is targeted at more experienced meditators
- There are some technical glitches
Cost
Introductory content is free and Member Plus memberships are available for roughly AU$80 per year. A free seven-day trial of premium content is available.
9. Healthy Minds Program
The Healthy Minds Program app uses neuroscience, contemplative traditions, and skill-based learning to help you develop your mindfulness skills. Offering seated and active podcast-style meditations, this free app has something for everyone.
Pros
- No-frills approach
- Goal-driven
- Clear sequence of courses
- Provides explanations of the science behind the practices
- Free to download and use
Cons
- More basic than other apps
Cost
Free
10. Portal
Portal takes you to the great outdoors to improve your mindfulness. The app brings nature into your surroundings via cinematic visuals, 3D audio and smart light integration, while also offering a sleep and meditation timer and breathing exercises.
Pros
- Incredibly unique
- Transports you around the world using audio and visuals
- You can mix Portal’s audio with other apps
- Relatively low-cost annual subscriptions
Cons
- No guided meditations
- Only available on the App Store (not suitable for Android users)
Cost
A monthly membership is available for US$9.99 (roughly AU$13) per month. An annual membership is available for US$49.99 (roughly AU$66) per year. A lifetime membership is available for a one-time payment of US$249.99 (roughly AU$334). A free trial is available.
We understand the importance of getting the study, work and social life balance right and can offer all the student support you need to succeed. Find out more about life as a TAFE SA student.
RTO: 41026 | CRICOS: 00092B | IHE: PRV14002
