Pause: daily mindfulness Hack 4.2.13 + Redeem Codes

OK, so here’s the deal. I use this just like those old “ocean wave” toys. (The ones that came in a plastic tube, and were filled with a thick blue liquid and a clear liquid. You tilted them from one end of the tube to the other to make “waves”.) With this app, i don’t close my eyes, and I pay no attention to the “too fast” or “too slow” because I don’t care what the developer had in mind, I just want to play with the colors. It does fill the screen, but, if you move around toward the corners you will see that the circle is still there. Then you can start playing with it, making it bigger and smaller, and moving around. It’s a not perfect app. I’d like a little more control of the size of the circle, and the colors, but I enjoyed it.

I've done mindfulness work in a lot of settings, but I don't often have time or the structured environment to really settle down for a long stretch-- but I still need that pause (apt name). Yes, this is very simple, but I appreciate that; it's what I was looking for. If you do want something more complex, then this may not be the best choice.

What this is good for (for me): tense moments during the day when I need a breather. The first time I used it, I was frustrated because I felt like the blob expanded too fast, like it was giving too many directions, etc. I realized that was my mind focusing too much on the details of the app and being distracted from mindfulness practice: once I let all that go and let myself fall into the soothing aspects, it worked beautifully.

Your degree of satisfaction may vary depending on how much you're willing to let go of focus on design details and drift I to mindfulness practice-- and that is purely an individual preference. It is too bad that there isn't a brief trial period or demo so that users could see which side of the line they fall on before paying. My best advice is to ask yourself whether or not you're typically bothered by function or if you can set that aside.

Pro tip: this mindfulness app is great for using at work. It's so unobtrusive that no one will have any idea what you're doing-- if they even notice.

I find the app really lovely. The initial blob is not something you’re following so much as something you’re leading. The aggregating color helps bring my focus to the session.

Once the screen was filled with color, I began exploring the colors. The first time it filled with a gradient from blue to green to gold to orange from bottom to top. I found myself exploring these gradients and the way the direction of my motion changed my perception of them and how my finger obscuring parts of the gradient would make different colors stand out. This was all surprisingly engaging.

That said, there are a few things this app really needs to rise to the next level for me:

1) Some sort of audio or haptic feedback for when you’re moving too fast. It instructs you to close your eyes and then puts feedback on screen in text. :\
2) Update to support the full screen of iPhone X. Seeing black bars is distracting and using the full screen of the X would make the experience much more immersive.
3) An Apple Watch app. This would be a great place to offer feedback while the user’s eyes are closed.
4) Siri support to start a new session without needing to locate the app.

This is an amazing app and is well worth the money! The only improvement I would ask for is for an option to keep the "guide" from growing outside of the screen. I would like to watch it follow my fingertip and I find that part most relaxing.

Update: very bummed that the newest update requires an annual fee now to access the additional features after I paid for the app, but at least the original feature is still free…hoping the same won’t happen to Sway…

If you’re having a hard time with stress, falling asleep, etc., I highly recommend the Pause app. I cannot overstate how much I love this app. (I’ve been using it for a few years now.) You basically guide a little blob around the screen - verrry slowwwwly - picking up other gently floating little blobs, as your blob grows and grows and eventually fills the screen. All while gentle, floofly, space age meditation music plays. It sounds weird, but it’s actually a lovely, relaxing experience! If this app ever went away, I’d honestly be bereft. It’s a big part of my relaxation toolkit!

Wonderful and mindful moment of clarity. Starts off with a lava-lamp looking blob that you move around the screen, then as you get the hang of it the blob fills the screen and you close your eyes to relax. Really great. Nice to destress for 3-5 minutes when things get overwhelming.

As of this writing (Jan 25, 2018), the app has not been updated for iPhone X. Still functions, but it isn’t the full screen. Hopefully they will update it soon!?

I have enjoyed using Pause for a while and have been very happy to see the feature set grow with new and very helpful additions. I have been considering subscribing, but have one major complaint: Pause does not seem to offer the opportunity to log mindful minutes in Apple Health. As someone who likes to track that metric passively, I would really like to see that added to a future update.

Out of all the available known breathing techniques this is what you’re going with. I have to lay down and put my phone awkwardly on my stomach. And then the audio keeps cutting out every few seconds. This is incredibly annoying and the most frustrating breathing technique I’ve ever tried.

You shouldn’t have to lay down to do breathing exercises.

I’ll keep using my other breathing apps that aren’t just a gimmick.

I want to give this more stars because it does cause me an immediate physiological response, calming and almost sedative, but you have zero control to make it work better for you depending on your needs, and it’s disappointing. Here’s what would help:

- Add an option in settings to turn the sound off. The music and birds are not relaxing to me (and there are no music or sound options). Yes, I can just mute it, but that’s not the point.
- Allow adjustments to the speed of the growth of the blob. This would not decrease the effectiveness, and it often takes me longer to fully relax than the current timeframe gives me.
- Let the user pick the color. Some colors are more soothing than others.

The way it is the frustration is outweighing the benefits.

The dot disappears after a couple of minutes. The whole screen is covered so I’m not following anything. Then it tells me to close my eyes. For how long? It never tells me to open them so I peak. Im going too fast is in the screen. How am I supposed to see that with my eyes closed?? And I could just put on some zen music and move my finger across the screen of my phone and it wouldn’t cost me $1.99. Don’t waste your money