Is it time to put away the training wheels? How meditation apps hold you back

December 9, 2020

(.. and all guided meditation in general ..)

There are many good reasons to use meditation apps to get started with your meditation practice.

However, if they are based on guided meditation, they can keep you from strengthening your attention skills in the best possible way.

The good side of meditation apps

Here are some of the reasons why meditation apps are good:

Meditation apps motivate us to meditate

Since many of us like to have our mobile phones available at all times, we can set the apps to remind us to meditate.

Many apps will also tell you that you have done a series of several sessions in a row. And they often have different ways of rewarding you for having meditated every day. This is often called gamification, because the app becomes like a game you play with yourself.

Such games are very motivating for us and can help us sit down to meditate. If nothing else, just to keep a streak going. It is a well-known way to create good habits.

Meditation apps are inspiring

The most popular apps are created in collaboration with skilled meditation teachers and educators.

Therefore, the apps often offer many different techniques and perspectives. It is presented in ways that make it interesting and fun to meditate.

Meditation apps work .. to a certain point

Like all mindfulness training, apps help to strengthen the attentional skills of concentration, equanimity and sensory clarity.

Studies show that popular apps like Headspace and Calm help many people gain better attention skills. In two fields in particular, they have demonstrated positive results. These are; positive affect and depression. (Source)

Positive affect is the ability to experience positive emotions, be positive in relationships, and to respond to challenges in a positive way.

But studies also show that apps have weaknesses.

The hidden problems with meditation apps

As you can see, meditation apps can be useful for beginners who need to get started.

But for advanced users, we see that apps often slow down development. And for some beginners, it makes the first encounter with meditation so uncomfortable that they stop doing it.

What are the problems?

Many meditation apps work poorly when really needed

First, studies show that meditation apps based on guided meditation work poorly with negative affect. (Source)

Negative affect is when we experience the world in a negative way, have negative feelings, and relate negatively in relationships and to the outside world. This includes unpleasant feelings, like brooding and anxiety.

Meditation apps do not take into account special challenges

Another group for which apps work poorly is those exposed to trauma and have developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (Source)

There is reason to believe that this disorder is much more common than originally thought. One can, for example, develop PTSD as a result of small amounts of stress experienced over a long period of time. Not just from big sudden events.

If you have signs that indicate PTSD, meditation may be helpful for you, but the main rule is that the techniques must be adapted individually. Or else, there is a danger that the meditation can make the condition worse through retraumatization. Often the meditation training must be done in collaboration with a psychologist or other therapist with special competence, or with a competent meditation teacher.

The technical term for this is trauma-sensitive mindfulness.

Why do meditation apps work poorly when really needed?

We do not know for sure, but here are my thoughts.

When you use a meditation app and listen to guided meditation, you leave the app in the driver’s seat. You let it control how the meditation unfolds.

If you get out of meditation, when you are distracted, the instructor’s voice will eventually take you back. The voice makes sure you do the technique.

The problem with this is that you do not train your mind to be aware of the distraction. The voice is doing the work and you miss out on the training of your skills.

This becomes clear when you experience a small crisis in everyday life. Often it only takes a few seconds before your body and mind have been completely taken over by negative emotions and thoughts.

You have been hijacked. Like a plane or ship at sea.

Stress overwhelms you and your attention is taken from you.

And unfortunately, this happens so quickly that it takes time to get back to an attentive and fully functioning mind. There is no voice or narrator there to bring you back. This is where your training really counts.

How to use meditation apps in the best way?

Here are some steps to get the most out of your meditation apps.

Use the meditation app as an advanced clock

There are many meditation apps that are not based on guided meditation. They are more like advanced meditation bells, and preferably with a little gameplay.

I highly recommend Insight Timer. It is easy to adjust, has nice bell sounds, and you can also listen to a wide range of guided meditations if you want. (I earn nothing on this recommendation.)

Use the meditation app to learn something new

Learn to meditate instantly on autopilot

Practice starting the meditation on the spot.

When you sit down to meditate, start meditating right away. Do not take a first breath or wait until you are “ready”. Start before you are ready.

Talk to a meditation teacher regularly

Try to talk to a meditation teacher at least once a year to get input on your daily practice. You can often do this at meditation retreats or by direct contact.

Seek out others who meditate

Being able to talk to others who are meditating is very helpful. Maybe you have friends who want to meet to meditate together and talk about experiences later?

Or maybe there are groups where you live that have this offer?