Remember that time before Instagram and TikTok, when you could just sit there with nothing but your thoughts?

Neither do I.

Ever since the rise of social media, we’re constantly glued to our phones, desperately searching for that next cheap dopamine hit. We’ll scroll through reels for hours and hours, despite how much we promised ourselves that we’d cool it with that stuff.

Perhaps one of the reasons we refuse to set aside our smartphones is because we’ve lost the art of introspection. Because we no longer take the time to be alone with our thoughts, the notion of simply sitting still with only our minds and bodies to keep us company can feel downright terrifying – and straight-up intimidating!

Fortunately, many people are countering this lack of introspection with meditation exercises. What exactly is meditation, though? In the simplest terms, meditation is a terrific way to prioritize your mental health and overall well-being by reconnecting with your mind, body, and soul. It can also help you focus on the present, as opposed to either ruminating about the past or fearing for your future.

In today’s chaotic world, we all can benefit from meditation for a good old mental reset.

With that in mind, here is Trueself’s official list of the best meditation apps for a calmer, happier, more focused you.

Calm

Calm is considered the holy grail of meditation apps, and for good reason.

This app focuses specifically on helping you get a good night’s sleep, so it’s best to tune in to Calm right before bedtime.

What makes Calm special is that the app features high-quality meditation exercises that *actually* minimize stress. I spent all last night listening to and following Calm’s meditations, and I was pleasantly surprised by how effective they are.

I’ll admit, I was initially pretty skeptical about these guided meditations. I thought I’d be rolling my eyes while forcing myself to succumb to those generic meditations we’ve all heard. You know the ones: those corporate-y-sounding guides who tell you to “picture yourself on a beach while breathing in and out.”

I was happily proved wrong as soon as I listened to my first Calm meditation. As someone who struggles with severe generalized anxiety, I was able to recenter my focus on more positive thoughts. For me, that’s a personal breakthrough.

Plus, what makes this relaxation app a winner is it features so much more than guided meditations. There are fantastic “bedtime stories” from your favorite celebs, including Kevin Hart, Camilla Cabello, P!nk, and Harry Styles. (Um, Harry Styles reading me a bedtime story? Sign me up immediately!)

Headspace: Sleep & Meditation

Headspace is an award-winning app designed with your mental health in mind. The app has several features, including ways to get a better night’s sleep, soothe anxiety, or reduce stress.

My favorite part about Headspace, personally, is the “one-on-one mental health support” feature. This unique feature allows you to personally text with a mental health professional (far cheaper than the ridiculous fees for therapy.) Although this app certainly isn’t a replacement for those who need therapy, it’s a notable step in the right direction.

Sometimes, we just need to pour out our problems to someone who just gets it. No judgment, no preconceived notions, just simple guidance to move you in a calmer and pleasant state of mind. If you ever feel like you need someone to talk to – but aren’t financially able to pay for therapy – these one-on-one sessions can be super helpful.

Headspace also features high-quality sleep music, ambient sounds for sleep, and 3D soundscapes.

Honestly, what more could you ask for in an app?

Waking Up: Meditation & Wisdom

Created by Sam Harris, this highly-rated meditation app is specifically designed with the morning in mind. I find that my highest state of anxiety and negative thought spirals occur first thing in the morning. As I wake up to the urgent shrill of my alarm clock, I’m filled with a sense of nervousness and dread about the long day ahead of me.

When this happens, it plays a massive role in how the rest of my day goes. One bad morning can lead to a whole day of negativity just like I’m sporting a giant rain cloud over my head.

Because of this, I view the morning as the most important time for meditation, rather than bedtime. I’m so obsessed with this app because I’ve noticed my moods are more positive because of it.

The Waking Up app doesn’t have a miracle feature that will magically erase all your day-to-day problems, but it does shift your mentality pretty significantly. With its goal in mind to help you live a happier, more fulfilling life, the Wake Up app can help you view the world through much rosier-colored glasses than before.

And who the heck wouldn’t want that?

Sol – Daily Goodness

There’s no denying the world is so negative these days. With constant soul-crushing news updates to the dramatic rise of mental health issues, it’s really important that we reserve time in our day to take a deep breath and focus on the positive.

That’s where Daily Goodness comes in handy. This app is designed to remind you that there’s still so much good in this world. If you ever feel like you need a reminder of all the beauty this world has to offer, this app has it.

Daily Goodness offers a hub of feel-good content, from its “Daily Inspiration” feature to its “Spiritual Readings.” It also offers “Daily Horoscopes” for all you astrology junkies out there, as well as “Inspirational Quotes” that guarantee motivation.

Whenever I need something to boost my mood, I open my Daily Goodness app.

No matter how bad you’re feeling, there’s bound to be something on here that will make you smile.

Aura

Aura is another award-winning app that offers grade-A assistance for a more peaceful state of mind. Not only is the platform itself beautiful, but so are the high-quality sleep sounds. These sounds are so crisp and astonishing, that even the worst insomniac can fall asleep in minutes with Aura.

Aura has everything you need to get a more peaceful night’s rest, from nature sounds to sleep music, and mindfulness meditations. To add to its greatness, there’s also CBT stories, hypnosis, and soundscapes.

What separates Aura from other meditation apps, is that many of the stories and live sessions come from professional coaches who specialize in mental health. And although I do love the idea of Harry Styles reading me a bedtime story in the Calm app, I appreciate that Aura uses actual professionals to help guide me rather than former boy band heartthrobs. Sorry, Harry 🙁

Breethe: Sleep & Meditation

According to Breethe, after using their app 70% of its users experience a reduction in anxiety and stress. That’s pretty impressive for an app alone!

I like Breethe because it has features that are specific to your individual needs. Whether you’re looking to “feel happier,” “get healthier,” or “deal with anxiety,” these meditations promise to bring you into a more zen state of mind.

I’m also very moved by their inspirational quotes. As someone who has a history of ruminating on the negative, this app genuinely helps me refocus my brain to see things in a more positive – or at the very least neutral – light.

Note: While these apps listed above are excellent add-ons to your mental reset journey, make sure you also seek professional help if your stress and anxiety symptoms are getting in the way of your daily life.

And there you have it. Happy – and peaceful – meditations.