Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSign-UpHow It WorksPros & ConsFinal Thoughts
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sign-Up
How It Works
Pros & Cons
Final Thoughts
After the birth of my son in October 2022, I started to feel more anxious than usual. I was not diagnosed withpostpartum anxiety—which I note because, if I were, I would have sought medical attention—but I wanted to feel more at ease. I was also having a lot of trouble sleeping. Sometime around the time my son turned eight months old, it occurred to me that I hadn’t slept through the night in, well… eight months.
I was sleep-deprived and therefore short on patience, so I decided to look for something that could help me learn meditation so I could live my life more calmly—and be a better example of emotional regulation for my son. I also wanted to replace my nightly scrolling with sleep meditations to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
I hopedmeditationcould help me live life more calmly, which is something I want to model for my son. I knew the benefits of meditation are far-reaching: it can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and even reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, disordered eating, and ADHD.This is because meditation helps you focus and get back to the present moment, which can reduce the racing thoughts that can lead to negative effects.
I knew I would like meditation if I could stick with it, but sitting still with my eyes closed for meditation is daunting to me. When I’ve made attempts on my own, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, which led me to start making grocery lists in my head. So I decided to tryHappier(previously known as Ten Percent Happier), an iOS and Android app that educates users on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness through various courses and guided meditations; it bills itself as “a meditation coach in your pocket.” I was familiar with Happier because I’d tried it in October 2019, then forgot about it until recently when I decided to re-subscribe. So I tested both themeditationand sleep services the app offers. And, spoiler alert: I plan to continue using it.
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How I Signed Up
Sign-up is easy, quick, and straightforward: I was asked to input my name and email and create a password.
Then I was given full access to a robust library of content (over 500 meditations) which included guided meditations, courses, podcasts, and more.
Because I was a former subscriber, I could re-subscribe for $59.99, though an annual subscription is typically advertised as $99. There is no option to choose a monthly subscription plan during sign-up, though the website says if you’re looking for a monthly subscription and can’t afford the annual you can email customer service for help.
Free TrialNew subscribers do get a seven-day free trial, which gives you access to all content—a nice touch in case you’re on the fence about paying $99 for something you’re not sure you’ll like. However, this was not available to me as a former subscriber.
Free Trial
New subscribers do get a seven-day free trial, which gives you access to all content—a nice touch in case you’re on the fence about paying $99 for something you’re not sure you’ll like. However, this was not available to me as a former subscriber.
How Happier Works
Happier
If you use the search function to find topics for beginners, there is a whole collection of over 50 meditations labeled “Great for Beginners.” This is a great starting point if you’re not sure where to begin. There’s also a course called “Meditation for Skeptics” which sheds light on common misconceptions about meditation, such as “I don’t have time for this,” or “But XYZ is my meditation.”
On the bar at the bottom of the app, you can see a sleep tab, where you’ll find all the different sleep meditations (the sleep selection is a bit more limited, with around 50 meditations). Sleep meditations range from five to 30 minutes long, most hovering around 20 to 30 minutes.
In addition to guided meditations, there are also entire courses that cover topics like taming anxiety, establishing healthy habits, mindful eating, and improving focus. Each course is divided into 10 to 15 videos of around 15 minutes each.
How I Used Happier for Meditation
I tried to use Happier every day while my son took his first nap, usually at around 10 a.m. I’d light a candle, sit quietly in my office, and work on a daily meditation. If something specific was nagging at me, like work drama or a conflict with a friend, I’d use the search function to find something that aligned with my needs.
Verywell Mind / Allison Hirschlag
I also occasionally used the app first thing in the morning or in the evening after dinner, but I found having a set predictable routine around the app (putting my son to sleep, then going into my office) made it easier for me to stick to a schedule.
I found myself repeatedly returning to favorite meditations including Pausing for Patience, Happiness Right Here, and Parents Have Needs Too.
I liked that each meditation had the option for different lengths, from as short as three minutes to 15 or more.
Best Guided Meditations
There is no set path or curriculum, and you can do any exercise at any time (which can be a little daunting if you’re someone like me who appreciates a little structure). One nice thing is that the app interface changes slightly depending on the time of day. So, when I opened the app at 1:45 p.m., there was a section called “Right Now: Afternoon Boost,” which included four suggested meditations for this time of day.
There were far more exercises available than I thought there would be, and I liked the option to search for specific things.
I liked this reminder that sometimesmeditation can be as simpleas paying attention to what the physical body is doing at a given time.
I also appreciated the reminder that meditation doesn’t necessarily have to happen seated in a lotus pose with my eyes closed; it can happen as you walk, drive, or shower. This was one of the ideas that made meditation feel more accessible to me.
Using Happier for Sleep
I wasn’t as much of a fan of the sleep stories, though I know from speaking with friends that other people enjoy them.
There are only three sleep stories to choose from in the Happier app, which may be a drawback for some. They tended not to work for me because I get into the plot of the sleep stories and struggle to drift off.
I noticed that I was able to fall asleep quickly using the app. I especially noticed it when I had time for a quick power nap of 20 to 30 minutes, usually on weekends or while my son napped. One thing I would have appreciated was soundscapes or meditation music. Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping I prefer white noise to a meditation or story.
Additional Features I Appreciated
One feature I liked more than expected was access to podcasts, which are available to anyone but are ad-free for subscribers.
Pros and Cons
Overall I noticed more benefits than drawbacks while using Happier. Here are some pros and cons of the app.
ProsBoth courses and guided meditations are availableIncludes a podcast section featuring four different podcasts (I loved Childproof)Specific sleep meditations offeredOver 500 meditationsMany different types of guided meditationsMany teachers, so it’s easy to find someone you likeChoose the length of any meditation to fit the amount of time you have (usually five, 10, or 15 minutes)ConsAnnual subscription only (no monthly plan)Medications are intended for adults only; there is no content explicitly for kids or teensNo soundscapesNot many shorter sleep meditations or sleep storiesNo clear path or curriculum to follow
ProsBoth courses and guided meditations are availableIncludes a podcast section featuring four different podcasts (I loved Childproof)Specific sleep meditations offeredOver 500 meditationsMany different types of guided meditationsMany teachers, so it’s easy to find someone you likeChoose the length of any meditation to fit the amount of time you have (usually five, 10, or 15 minutes)
Both courses and guided meditations are available
Includes a podcast section featuring four different podcasts (I loved Childproof)
Specific sleep meditations offered
Over 500 meditations
Many different types of guided meditations
Many teachers, so it’s easy to find someone you like
Choose the length of any meditation to fit the amount of time you have (usually five, 10, or 15 minutes)
ConsAnnual subscription only (no monthly plan)Medications are intended for adults only; there is no content explicitly for kids or teensNo soundscapesNot many shorter sleep meditations or sleep storiesNo clear path or curriculum to follow
Annual subscription only (no monthly plan)
Medications are intended for adults only; there is no content explicitly for kids or teens
No soundscapes
Not many shorter sleep meditations or sleep stories
No clear path or curriculum to follow
After using Happier daily for three weeks, my husband told me I seemed more “go with the flow.” To be fair, there were a few other factors during the month that I tried the app that could have contributed to my overall positive mood—we had gorgeous weather in Portland, Oregon, where I live, so I was able to spend a lot of time outside in the sun, and I dramatically reduced the amount I was breastfeeding which shifted my hormone levels. However, something I can say for sure is that unlike other times I’ve tried meditation, this time, I look forward to doing it, and I plan to stick with the app as much as possible.
ExpectationsI expected there to be more sleep meditations, but there ended up being more than enough with just what was provided.
Expectations
I expected there to be more sleep meditations, but there ended up being more than enough with just what was provided.
Plus, you may find yourself returning to your favorite few repeatedly. It was helpful to have a tool to turn to when I woke up feeling anxious in the middle of the night or had trouble winding down before bed. In these moments, I’d do one of the body scan sleep meditations, which I found relaxing and grounding.
I do wish there had been more guidance upfront about which courses and meditations would be helpful for me.
With so many options, it can be hard to know where to begin, especially if, like me, you don’t see the root cause of your anxiety.
I think the option to fill out a quick questionnaire about how you’re feeling with some suggestions provided at the end would be helpful. This is why I liked the four suggested meditations based on the time of day, but something a bit more bespoke, like a “recommended for you” section, would have been great.
Overall, the content on the app was beneficial and worth the price. While I didn’t love that I had to buy an annual subscription, as I used the app, I realized there’s more than a year’s worth of fresh content available. I think I’ll see the best results when I start thinking of meditation as a long-term practice rather than something I try for a month. I plan to continue using the app at least until the year is up, and I recommend it to any meditation skeptics out there, those who are open-minded but new to meditation, and those who have trouble falling or staying asleep.
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1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Meditation and mindfulness: What you need to know.
1 Source
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Meditation and mindfulness: What you need to know.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Meditation and mindfulness: What you need to know.
Ally Hirschlag
andSimone Scully
Simone Scully
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