Hot take: I dropped $200 on a 'mindfulness' app subscription before realizing I was just paying for silence

I mean, I stuck with it for a full year before I figured out I could get the same clarity just sitting quietly in my own living room. Has anyone else wasted cash on something that turned out to be totally free?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_linda2mo ago

Disagree completely, the structure is what makes it work for me. My app has guided sessions that actually teach you how to handle specific stressful thoughts. Sitting in silence just lets my brain spin on its own. Paying for the course material gave me tools I use every day.

nancyn6926d ago

Yeah totally get what you're saying about the guided sessions. I got this subscription once that had these little breathing exercises timed to the second and it was great for like a week. Then I started getting annoyed because the app would buzz me to do it at 7am and I'd just be like no thanks. Honestly half the time I was too busy trying to remember where I left my phone to focus on the breathing part anyway. My cat also really liked sitting on the cushion I bought for it, so that ended up being more her thing than mine. Now I just take a deep breath when I'm waiting for my coffee to brew and call it good enough.

hall.joel2mo ago

Oh man, that hits home. I bought a fancy meditation cushion set for way too much money, the whole bamboo ring and everything. Used it twice, then went back to just leaning against my couch pillows. The quiet part really is free.

paigep852mo agoMost Upvoted

Structure helps me too, but paying for it isn't the only way. A library book or a free podcast series can give you the same tools without the cost. Sometimes the paid stuff just adds pressure to "get your money's worth" and that ruins the calm. The core skill of noticing your thoughts is free to practice anywhere.