Mindfulness Apps Every Cardiff Uni Student Needs!

Being a student at Cardiff Uni is great—between deadlines, nights out, and endless society events, there’s always something going on. But let’s be real, juggling everything can be stressful. Living in Cathays, I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights over assignments, messy house shares, and the never-ending Cardiff rain.

That’s where mindfulness apps come in. Whether you need help focusing, sleeping better, or just chilling out after a long day, these apps have made a real difference for me. And the best part? Most of them are free (or at least have decent free versions).

1. Insight Timer – Best Free Option

 Cost: Free (with optional paid extras)
 Why it’s great: Tons of free guided meditations, relaxing music, and breathing exercises.

If you’re looking for a completely free mindfulness app, Insight Timer is a lifesaver. I use it most nights for sleep sounds (the rain noises are great when the actual Cardiff rain isn’t helping). There are meditations for stress, anxiety, focus, and even procrastination—basically everything a student struggles with.

 Student Hack: If you’re new to meditation, try the 5-minute “Daily Calm” sessions. Super quick and actually helpful.

2. Headspace – Best for Beginners

Cost: Free basic version, full access is £5.99/month with the student discount
Why it’s great: Simple, structured meditations and focus tools.

I tried Headspace during exam season last year, and it genuinely helped. The “Focus” playlists are great for studying (they even have lo-fi and nature sounds). The free version has a good selection of basic mindfulness exercises, but if you want sleep stories or full-length meditations, you’ll need to pay.

 Student Hack: If you have Spotify Premium Student, you get Headspace included for free!

3. Calm – Best for Sleep & Anxiety

 Cost: Free basic version, full access £29.99/year (but there’s a free trial!)
 Why it’s great: Relaxing sleep stories, stress-relief exercises, and nature sounds.

If you have anxiety or trouble sleeping, Calm is worth a go. The sleep stories (especially the ones narrated by Harry Styles or Stephen Fry) knock me out faster than a 9 AM lecture. There’s also a cool feature called “Daily Check-Ins” where you can track your mood, which is handy if you’re trying to be more mindful of your mental health.

 Student Hack: The app sometimes offers discounts to students—keep an eye out!

4. Smiling Mind – Best for Exam Stress

 Cost: Completely free (no hidden fees!)
 Why it’s great: Designed for students, with stress and focus exercises.

This app was actually created for students, so it gets it. The exam stress program helped me stay sane during my dissertation, and the “Mindful Break” feature is perfect for a quick reset between study sessions.

 Student Hack: It’s totally free, so even if you just use it once in a while, you won’t feel like you’re wasting money.

5. UCLA Mindful – Best for Short Meditations

Cost: Free
Why it’s great: Super simple, with basic guided meditations that are quick and effective.

If you’re completely new to mindfulness and don’t want an overwhelming app, this is a good place to start. The “5-minute breathing” exercise is great for calming down before a big presentation or exam.

 Student Hack: Download the offline meditations so you can use them without WiFi (handy if you’re stuck in the library with no signal).

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Get?

• If you want completely free meditations: Insight Timer / Smiling Mind
• If you struggle with sleep/anxiety: Calm
• If you want guided sessions for beginners: Headspace
• If you need something super simple and quick: UCLA Mindful

Honestly, just try a few and see what works for you. Mindfulness isn’t some magic fix, but taking 5-10 minutes a day to breathe and chill out can make a huge difference—especially when uni stress hits hard.

Got any other mindfulness apps you swear by? Drop them in the comments!