As stress and anxiety take a toll on everyone, and the buzz of smartphones and scheduling apps keeps people in all professions on their toes, many have turned to mindfulness and meditation to help gain a sense of calm in their lives. Far from meditation’s past reputation as a “hippie” alternative activity, many today view mindfulness as just another tool, helping them sleep better, overcome stressful experiences or get out of the “multitask mindset” and put full focus on the task at hand — all things that would be useful for those in construction or any trade involving stress from loud jobsites, tight deadlines and
budget concerns.

But can all these benefits be packed into an app you carry around on your phone? With dozens of mindfulness apps competing for a share of the stressed-out market, developers are betting that yes, they can help you thumb-tap and scroll your way to a calmer state.

A 2019 study investigated whether short, guided meditations delivered via a smartphone mindfulness app could yield measurable improvements. Compared with the control group, those who used the app daily reported significant improvement in well-being, distress levels, job strain and perceptions of workplace social support, as well as decrease in workday systolic blood pressure.

Mindfulness through meditation is something that can be done anywhere, by anyone, with no special equipment (unless you count a smartphone) and Healthline analyzed the science-based benefits of meditation and found it may also help improve sleep, fight addictions, increase positive feelings, reduce memory loss, lengthen attention span and reduce anxiety and stress. This goes for anyone climbing the corporate ladder — or a real ladder at a job site.

While incorporating a few minutes each day on a mindfulness app can help your mindset, it is far from a quick fix or ultimate cure-all. For any immediate crisis, remember that a trained counselor is ready to help you 24/7 at SMOHIT’s Helpline, 877-884-6227.