1. Apps and Books
How did you learn about mindfulness and what have you already had the opportunity to try? Many people have become acquainted with mindfulness practice through a mobile app or a book. Both can be a very interesting and useful first step on this journey. And it’s no wonder that this is the case for so many people. Apps and books have several advantages.
Advantages of apps and books
- They are highly accessible: You just need to go to the App Store or Google Play on your smartphone, and you can immediately download them. Books on mindfulness are available in most bookstores or libraries (including university libraries at MUNI).
- You can set your own pace: You determine the pace at which you go through the app or book – there’s no need to adapt to someone else's schedule.
- Apps can be very engaging: Many of them have a nice and engaging design. You can dive into mindfulness practice almost anytime and anywhere. Just put on your headphones, for example, in public transport or while waiting in line at the store, and you can immediately go through the program.
- They are free (sometimes): Many apps are either completely free or have some of their content available for free.
- You choose the practice: You choose what interests you, what type of practice you want to engage in, and how long you will do it.
Possible disadvantages of (most) apps and books
- Lack of contact with other people: With apps, you usually navigate on your own. Some of them include certain community elements (forums, the ability to see how many people are currently practicing, etc.), or publish stories from some of their users about what the app brings them and how they use it. Thus, you may have a certain sense that you are not entirely alone on the path, but this experience cannot be compared to going through a mindfulness program with a real, live group, with whom you can share your experience and learn from it.
- Lack of discussion with a mindfulness teacher: In the vast majority of cases with apps, there is no reflection on what you experience in your mindfulness practice. There is no one to discuss situations with when you feel that the practice "isn’t going well" or if you feel that you are stuck in it.
- Lack of consistent skill-building: On one hand, it can be pleasant to have complete freedom in choosing which exercise to do on a given day. On the other hand, excessive freedom might lead to inconsistency in your practice and staying only on the surface of what mindfulness can offer. This may deprive you of understanding deeper connections and self-knowledge.
- Most people give up after about 3 weeks of using apps.
Tip: If you are looking for inspiration for a book suitable for an introduction to mindfulness, visit the Literature for the General Public section on our website. If you are looking for an app for your smartphone, we recommend, for example, Headspace, Calm, 10% Happier, or Insight Timer.
If we return to the ocean metaphor, this phase of our mindfulness experience is like standing on the shore and dipping only our toes and the soles of our feet into the water. We have lightly touched upon mindfulness, but it was just a small taste. For some, this might be entirely sufficient for the moment or life stage they are in, and they may not have the need or capacity to go further. And that is perfectly okay. However, many people find mindfulness so inspiring that they look for further ways to develop it within themselves. They have tried several exercises from available apps or skimmed through their first book and are eager to continue. They wonder what they could do now that they have gotten a bit of a feel for mindfulness. Are these thoughts familiar to you? If so, proceed to the next section of our guide. The ocean awaits.
