Application of the month HEAD SPACE
I've been wanting to write a new column for a long time now, because I'm a connected girl, sometimes a little too much so. And I often think: what will I do without my mobile? I think back to the days before smart phones, when I used to print out my Mappy maps to get to appointments, among other things... I have to admit, it makes my life a lot easier, at least it saves me time, and I think that's what these tools should be used for today...
So today, I'm going to tell you about an application: Head Space. It's a free application that lets you follow a daily guided meditation program. Skeptical? Yes, I know, I thought I'd end up wearing shabby linen clothes and shaving my head. Turns out I didn't. It was a long road to install this application. Everything changed after an exchange of e-mails with Lili and MaiI'd tell them how I felt like I was juggling 30 subjects, while at the same time I had the attention span of a hamster on ecstasy. I didn't know how else to handle it, so I composed as best I could. It was great, I felt like I'd spent my day solving international crises, and in the end Jack Bauer and Olivia Pope were just petty players. And the girls wrote to me in almost unison: "HEAD SPACE baby".
It's very simple: at the beginning, the program only lasts 10 minutes a day, and I can't hide the fact that this is what made me take the plunge. I decided to do it first thing in the morning. So in the morning, as soon as I get up, I don't make myself a warm squeezed lemon, no no, and I don't put on my yoga pants, either. I get up still sticky from sleep, wrapped in an Ikea Totoro plaid, sit on my sofa and launch the app. I let myself be guided by the soft, sexy voice of Andy Puddicombe, the creator of Head Space. I visualize my thoughts as cars on a freeway, watching them go by and not trying to get into every car along the way. The explanations are very vivid, like this one, and easy to access, even if the application is in English. Head Space is really well thought-out and fun, with a special mention for the app's graphics, and each step is illustrated by a high-quality video.
So yes, I thought I was hermetic to all that, self-awareness and all those great phrases didn't resonate with me. Well, if I'd known... it's been part of my routine for months now. Taking time for yourself is not a luxury, and it starts with 10, 15, 20 minutes or more if you wish. For me, these minutes are precious and have really been my decompression valve. I sleep better, I'm able to keep my head cool and my thoughts clear, and when I feel I'm close to the point of supreme annoyance, I can give myself a 5-minute emergency session with my headphones, and it's off again. After a while, you have to pay about 6 euros a month for the app, and you'll have access to dozens of programs, and you'll be able to direct your sessions to develop your creativity, improve your relationships with others, focus on your health, etc... It took me a while to tell you about it, but I wanted to see if this app was really for me, a whim of the moment, or if it was something I could do over the long term. So obviously I'm no superhero and there are days when I don't feel like getting up when the alarm goes off to do my meditation, because it's hot under my comforter. But to be honest, today I can see the difference between the days when I use Head Space and the days I don't use it...
Frida asleep during her sun salutation....