Insight: An App I Can't Live Without
Lately, I've been struggling with my anxiety - a lot. It's almost a full time job to manage, which is difficult, since there's other things I need to get on with in my day, like actual paid work. Paid work is one of the triggers of high cortisol levels that have me jittery and sleepless, and desperate for relief. I walk, surf, and do yoga - but still, I need extra support to get me through.
Enter my noise cancelling headphones and Insight Timer, the best and most used app on my phone. It's the one I recommend most to people.
If you haven't heard of Insight Timer, it touts itself as the number one app for sleep, anxiety and stress.
Whilst I'd argue putting my phone down is a good de-stressor, given our addiction to junk light and attention stealers, Insight Timer is a little different. It's not demanding we look at the screen, but find something to listen to, close our eyes, and meditate.
And it's completely free, and not only that, it's pop up free and ad free.
Extraordinary, no?
There's a few 'pathways' to follow, depending on your needs. Firstly, there's a really good timer with gongs if you'd like to time your meditation. Secondly, there's really good meditation music as well as kirtan and other 'wellness' tunes to sedate you.
However, what I find really, really valuable is the various guided meditations and courses you can do. In particularly, I love the yoga nidra meditations, which can be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. It takes a while to find one that works for you - some voices grate, and some have gongs at the end whereas I like to drift off to sleep. If you need a 15 minute break to relax, try one of these, or try them if you have insomnia.
You can preview them first, or let them run. My favourites are by Jennifer Piercy, but also Still Point and the hour long one by I Rest guy Richard Miller. There's also a few yoga nidra courses you can do, or you can choose live yoga classes - I've never done them because it's never in my time zone.
But wait, there's more! Honestly, this app is so well thought out that there's something for everyone.
- Live meditation sessons
- Connect to friends
- Courses
- Breathwork
- Journalling, quotes, and mood check in and tracking
When you log in, for example, it'll ask how you are feeling, and then suggest meditations accordingly. You can then track how you're feeling over the month. I don't tend to use all this information as I'm not a data girl and dont' want to waste time with it, but it may make some people accountable for how much time they spend doing such valuable activities. You can also choose by session length and various other parameters.
It can be hard if you're a newbie to meditation and take time to find something that suits you, but do persist! Some of the courses do require payment unless you're a premium member, but there are also many that are free and/or simply ask for a donation.
I've loved watching this app progress over the last few years and have been incredibly impressed by it. Whilst there is no substitute for flesh and blood teachers, that's not always possible. I know I'll keep using this as long as it's available.
Do you use Insight Timer? What's your favourite feature, meditation or music? Do you have a favourite app?
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With Love,
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I don't suffer from anxiety, and even if I did, as a man, I would likely experience and cope with it differently than a woman. Having said that, I have read some studies that journaling about the specific anxieties one feels about a situation can help reduce them and allow a person to perform better in academic related tasks. I don't know if those tasks would extend to other types of tasks such as those required for your job, but it might help. I can't find the specific study that I read, but I found this one in which they use a similar technique:
How to Reduce Test Anxiety and Academic Procrastination Through Inquiry of Cognitive Appraisals: A Pilot Study Investigating the Role of Academic Self-Efficacy
Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, I just play one in chat forums :)
And if I may shill a product, I recommend checking out The Five Minute Journal. Here's Tim Ferris describing his journaling technique. I haven't tried the other method, the Artist's Way, but he swears by it. I hope it helps a bit!
https://youtube.com/shorts/Z8F8MzsnOww?feature=share
That's so kind of you. I've heard of him and know journalling can help. I think for me it's about regulating my nervous system in an almost scientific way - if I can do that, thoughts and emotions are also regulated. They're certainly linked, but if I address the physical first it's a lot easier. X
Sorry to hear that you are going through a tough patch, River 😔💗🤗
We all have our stuff that we deal with behind the scenes - some have it a little tougher than the rest. Knowing that we are not alone, doesn't really make things any easier... but perhaps keeps us a little more sane and gives us partners in crime to see us through.
That app sounds pretty amazing and one that I will have to check out... maybe I'll try it now and hope it gets me to sleep quickly!
BTW, I'm often around and available for a chat if you're having a rough day. You can drop into my discord DM anytime (open invitation). Sending much love and a big hug !LUV !Hug
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! help(no space) to get help on Hive. InfoThanks so much. It's so kind of you. Most times I don't need to talk about it, more just work out how I can ride the wave with the tools I have. Everything passes. But the offer means the world x
I sent 1.0 HUG on behalf of @samsmith1971.
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I don't use Insight Timer but I have friends who create and publish content on there.
I love the idea of looking up sound healing-type stuff on there. Though for working with my anxiety I have found Irene Lyon's work to be hands down the very best I've ever, ever found. So I'm concentrating my efforts, attention and time there.
!HUG and !LUV !!
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! help(no space) to get help on Hive. InfoAh yes I know you are deep in that work and I'm sure you don't need an app to help you xx Much love xz
Ah, that was my backward way of wanting to encourage you to look up Irene's work. I don't know any one more qualified and experienced to help resolve anxiety and restore nervous system functionality than her. Even before I paid for any of her stuff, I found her free stuff absolutely fcking life-changing.
But I know I've mentioned her before and if you wanted to look into/engage with her work I know you would. I'll just go meet the parts of me now that struggle to watch you in pain and feel powerless to do anything about it... ;)
Big big hugs as you navigate these challenges your own way. !LUV
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! help(no space) to get help on Hive. InfoI sent 1.0 HUG on behalf of @consciouscat.
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I do suffer from a lot of stress. And this app seems perfect. I would like to try it. Hehehehe. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I hope you like it. There's different languages too.
I agree with you and this app is very helpful. Sometime we feel like stress and tired then we need something like yoga, music and medicine. I think yoga is so beneficial for us if we doing yoga everyday then it's rare possible to getting stress and tired.
It certainly helps!
My, my. Things seem to be hitting just right today. Power of attraction, maybe. What I mean to say is, this is very relatable in the sense of mucho anxiety here, as well, at the moment. Schedule's also been a little hectic, thus keeping me from engaging in as much meditation/yoga as I would like. Am downloading this as I type (well, almost), as it seems exactly like what I need. Thank you for the recommendation <3
Also, I'm sorry you're going through a difficult patch. I hope you find equilibrium/stillness very soon, my friend. :)
Thanks beautiful. I think you'll like this app.
I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with anxiety at the moment. I know that can be really challenging 💚
I have never used Insight Timer. I tend to feel somewhat scattered when it's too much to choose from. And I would like to have a relation to the person that's guiding me. I also do most of my spiritual practice unguided (or self-guided), but I like the timer with the gong you mentioned, I might download the app just for that 🙂
It also seems really nice that you can connect with people on the app.
Looks interesting so I installed. But Here its Not free it would cost 5 EUR a month
So I stay with my plumvillage App 🙂