Apple Offering T-Shirt Reward in New Mindfulness Monthly Challenge for Employees

You need an app to tell you to breathe?

I'm hoping this is a joke. It guides you through deep breathing. That's not the same as normal breathing.

Lots of hard research showing many benefits of mindfulness meditation. People like to make fun of the Breathe app, but if it can actually prompt people to be more mindful that’s a good thing.

Lots of hard research showing many benefits of mindfulness meditation. People like to make fun of the Breathe app, but if it can actually prompt people to be more mindful that’s a good thing.

True story. I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and when I feel an attack coming on, my go to is the breathe app. Unfortunately it doesn't work every time, but it can more often than not.

I don’t disagree necessarily with Mindfulness but since this program is an Apple Employee program and since the general public can’t buy whatever items Apple uses to encourage participation in the program I don’t see a lot of value in reporting this.

For all of the "tough guys" and "warriors" who think it's pointless, read here (US Navy) ('https://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/Documents/health-promotion-wellness/psychological-emotional-wellbeing/Combat-Tactical-Breathing.pdf')

Although anyone that's actually tough need not apply, the EMTs, policemen, and military guys already know it's importance ― but for the armchair experts

Gotta say, as a total skeptic, I’ve been converted to a mindfulness meditator, although just a novice still, and the 10% Happier app has been my introduction. I surprised myself because I’m the last person you’d think would buy in to mediation at all. What appeals to me is that it strips away spiritualism and focuses on practical brain science. Turns out, patience, kindness, and even happiness are skills, not just “the way you are,” that can be developed with exercise. Since that turns out to be true, why not work on that? People don’t scoff at gym workouts, and the interpersonal and even longevity benefits of mindfulness training look like they’re greater. The whole approach is that you can’t screw up meditating. We’re imperfect; if our mind wanders, as it will, just begin again. In the app, Dan Harris is an engaging host and Joseph Goldstein is just wonderful. I love even watching him in an interview. So insightful, unflappable, and even humerous. I’d love to be that serene when life’s crap gets thrown my way.

I like Apple’s recent focus on health, and am happy/impressed that they’re focusing on health of the mind as well as the body.

I’ve never been able to meditate and doing the breathing exercises on the Apple Watch just makes me agitated and more fidgety. My husband swears by the breathe app for helping him lower stress and keep his blood pressure in check. I envy those of you who can benefit from these things.

I’m religious but even so, I can’t pray for more than a few seconds at a time. I joke that my prayers are more like Tweets to God. I’m not ADHD so far as I know. I can focus on most other kinds of tasks where I can see with my eyes something getting finished.

With the breathe app I kind of panic midway through wondering when it is going to end. :(

Edit to add I guess I did okay with the breathing App on the Fitbit. I still don’t think I got out of it what people are supposed to get out of it, but at least I could look at the sparkles on it and not get so twitchy.

You sound like just the kind of person mindfulness mediation could benefit. I suggest you give one of those apps a shot. You can’t fail.