STOP THE BRAIN SWIRL

Whether you want to meditate, zone out, or focus, these apps aim to up your inner peace. “I’ve worked with some amazing leaders, and the most productive ones know when to take a breath,” says Shan-Lyn Ma, co-founder and CEO of Zola. “Penciling in time for myself has helped me unlock a new passion for my work.” –K.R.

Make time to meditate

“A couple of years into Birchbox, I took a meditation class, and I was blown away by how much I got out of the experience. I began using the Headspace app; it doesn’t take hours or setting up some sacred space, and it allows me to recognize that there’s always time to calm the mind.” KATIA BEAUCHAMP Co-founder and CEO of Birchbox

Minimize office noise

“We recently took down the inner walls at my company, which makes it easy to get distracted. I use Focus@ Will to get in the zone and absorb information more deeply. It’s a music app that uses neuroscience to play sounds that are neither too relaxing nor distracting.” CARYN SEIDMAN-BECKER CEO of Clear

Listen and learn

“My commute is the only part of my day that’s completely mine, so I like to clear my head with podcasts. The Tim

Ferriss Show is in a class of its own, full of ideas on how to be more productive. I love learning new time-management tricks and tips on sleeping or mindfulness hacks to help me focus, and I think part of being productive is staying open to new ways of doing things.” JEETU PATEL Chief product and strategy officer of Box