“Let us embark on a journey to moonlit valleys adorned with heather,” Harry Styles whispers to me. The voice of the pop star is melodic, soothing, and evokes the feeling of being at an adult sleepaway camp, where he is our captivating counselor and it’s time to settle down for the night. Styles’s iambic invitation is part of a “sleep story” on the mindfulness app Calm. Like many similar apps, Calm has become a one-stop destination for emotional well-being. Over the years, I have tried several of these platforms, finding solace in their ability to transform meditation from a vague and intangible practice into a tangible and achievable experience that can be checked off a to-do list. This is the power of modern mobile apps: to simplify the completion of tasks. Whether it’s sending an email, watching a show, ordering supplies, or even scrolling endlessly through social media before sleep, there seems to be an app for everything, providing a sense of accomplishment once the task is done.
The most popular mindfulness apps follow this outcome-oriented and timebound model. Traditional meditation practices can be limitless, ambiguous, and require dedication to truly reap the benefits, which may take months or even years to fully manifest. These practices are rooted in discipline, study, and receiving guidance, often accompanied by moments of frustration. Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, and Ten Percent Happier have successfully repackaged and streamlined meditation, offering shorter, guided options for busy individuals who may not have the time or patience for lengthier sessions. For example, if you only have a few minutes on a bus, there’s a three-minute guided meditation available. Or, if you’re struggling with insomnia, you can listen to a sleep-inducing lullaby narrated by Matthew McConaughey.
There is undoubtedly value in these apps, as they provide a reprieve from the constant hum of stress and danger that plagues our modern lives. Peace of mind has become a lucrative business opportunity, as evident from the millions of subscribers and billion-dollar valuations for these apps. However, it is worth contemplating what these apps are truly selling. Mindfulness, in its simplest form, is the ability to be fully present and aware of our sensations without judgment. It is a practice that can be beneficial regardless of one’s lifestyle or beliefs. By applying mindfulness to various aspects of life, such as eating, meeting, sleeping, or even fighting, individuals can find relief from the negative aspects of these experiences. The meditation platforms, however, have taken each of these use cases and turned them into another piece of content or video to consume, blurring the line between mindfulness and mindlessness.
My first encounter with frustrations regarding these apps came when I saw a subway ad for Headspace, promoting a meditation practice that seemed more transactional than transcendent. It was focused on “crushing it,” which did not resonate with my personal experience of meditation. Meditation, for me, is not a means to an end, but rather a practice that doesn’t guarantee reliability or immediate results. Motivated by this dissonance, I canceled my subscription then and there.
Coincidentally, I had recently discovered the peace and tranquility of a yoga studio where phones were not allowed. As someone who is tall and naturally restless, it was a challenge for me to find stillness and contentment in my body and mind. Yet, through physical therapy and yoga, I began to experience a newfound sense of balance and patience. Initially, my mind would wander during yoga classes, filled with thoughts and anxieties. But as my practice deepened and tensions started to dissipate, I would leave each class with a profound serenity. Yoga was more than just a temporary escape from the chaos of life; it became a holistic harmony between my body and mind.
Of course, dedicating an hour to yoga every day is not always feasible. As the head of a news desk during the 2016 presidential race at The New York Times, finding a few minutes of respite became increasingly difficult. I missed the convenience of Headspace, especially its cheerful co-founder and guide, Andy Puddicombe, whose voice always brought a sense of calm. Thus, I resubscribed to Headspace and started meditating in a borrowed office space. However, I found myself increasingly drawn to my phone, distracting me from the practice. Some days, I would finish a session without a single moment of inner peace. The solution seemed simple—turn up the volume and place the phone across the room. But anyone who has struggled with the allure of texts knows that it’s not so easy. A smartphone is not just a distraction from mindfulness; it often serves as a source of stress, addiction, and frustration. Researchers have even found that having a phone in the same room can diminish cognitive capacity. Using a phone to meditate felt counterproductive, akin to subscribing to bacon when facing high cholesterol.
Ideally, mindfulness apps should facilitate minimal interaction with the phone, allowing users to focus solely on centering their awareness. Yet, many of these apps thrive on subscription-based content consumption. Upon opening one of these apps, users are bombarded with a full day’s worth of programming. For example, Headspace offers animations to guide deep breaths, videos showcasing the achievements of an English bookbinder, and a choice of meditation guides from different languages. There are even nature scenes to lift one’s spirits during the afternoon slump or sleepcasts to aid in falling asleep. In this way, mindfulness becomes entangled with mindless consumption.
I had conversations with representatives from Calm and Headspace for this article, and they both highlighted the ways in which their apps can be used without actively looking at a screen. They defended the value of using phones as a means of accessing mindfulness techniques anytime and anywhere, especially for individuals who wouldn’t otherwise have exposure to these practices. They shared stories of people finding solace in their apps during challenging times. I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences, when a few minutes with Andy Puddicombe were my lifeline amid chaos.
However, I remained skeptical about the intrinsic distractions posed by phones. It seemed to me that we had created a dynamic where our phones consume our attention, a behavior we need to address and change. This perspective involves integrating mindfulness practices into various aspects of our day, providing more opportunities for mindfulness in our lives.
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