How To Start A Mindfulness Practice & The Best Mindfulness App

If you’ve ever thought about starting a mindfulness practice but found yourself drowning in endless research, books, and conflicting advice, you’re not alone. Mindfulness is one of the most powerful tools for improving mental resilience and even reducing chronic pain—but the way most people approach it sets them up for frustration.

During a recent talk for The Pain Exchange, I shared my thoughts on why practice beats theory when it comes to mindfulness—and some of the apps you might try to get you started.

Why Most People Overthink Mindfulness (and How to Avoid It)

Mindfulness has become a buzzword, and with that comes an overwhelming amount of information. There are hundreds of books, courses, and apps, each claiming to have the best approach. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to understand everything about mindfulness to benefit from it. In fact, spending too much time on theory can become a form of procrastination.

Imagine trying to learn how to ride a bike by only reading about it—sooner or later, you need to get on the bike. Mindfulness is the same. You won’t experience its benefits by just learning about it; you need to actually practice.

The Best Way to Start: Prioritising Practice Over Theory

So, what’s the best way to begin? Keep it simple:

1. Set a Daily Practice Goal – Even 5-10 minutes a day is enough to start building a habit.

2. Follow a Structured Approach – Random meditations here and there won’t be as effective as a progressive training system (see the apps below)

3. Stick With It – Mindfulness is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with consistency.

Why I Recommend Using an App for Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness apps provide accessibility and convenience. With our smartphones often within arm's reach, we can engage in mindfulness practices anytime and anywhere. Whether you're at home, commuting, or even taking a break at work, having a mindfulness app allows you to easily integrate short sessions of meditation into your day. This flexibility ensures that mindfulness becomes a consistent part of your routine, rather than a sporadic activity that is easily forgotten amidst the busyness of life.

Which Meditation App is best?

This is to some degree subjective and down to personal preference. Below are some I have spent significant time trialling and a summary of my experience. None of them pay me so there's no conflict of interest here. The cost of each app was true at the time of writing (March, 2025) in the UK. I have ranked them in the order I would recommend them but they are all good apps.

#1 FitMind - This is the app I now recommend to most people. The instructions are clear, the education is concise and well informed and the price is very reasonable.

Price: £49.99/year option of a free subscription if you can't afford the cost

#2 BrightMind - I started trialling this app after reading 'The Science of Enlightenment' by Shinzen Young, as suggested by the author. For anyone keen to learn a secular mindfulness approach from a very smart teacher then the book and the app are fantastic. The app is voiced by Toby Sola, who is laser focused on communicating as clearly as possible.

Price: £94.99/year

#3 Waking Up - The main voice on the app is Sam Harris who has written a book also titled Waking Up. The book is great and so is the app. There are lots of brilliant talks by experts on the app in addition to a diverse range of guided meditations. I found Sam sometimes suffered from knowing too much and struggling to translate it back clearly to my level of understanding as someone just starting out.

Price: £149.99/year option to request a scholarship if you can't afford the cost

#4 Headspace - The first app I tried. I started using it during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as it was free for NHS employees. It has a pain specific programme and it covers the basics of mindfulness practice well. There are also a number of voices on the app to suit different preferences. Certainly not a bad app to to learn the fundamentals.

Price: £9.99/month, £49.99/year // Free for NHS workers and teachers

The Takeaway: Start Practicing Today

If you’ve been stuck in the research phase of mindfulness, I challenge you to shift gears. Instead of reading another book or watching another video about mindfulness, spend that time actually doing it.

And if you’re already practicing, I’d love to hear from you—what’s been your experience with mindfulness apps? Drop a comment below!