Muse is a headband outfitted with seven EEG sensors that track brain activity. It communicates with a companion smartphone app that guides the user through meditative exercises, and promises that daily use will lower stress and improve productivity. The first time I tried the device my performance wasn’t stellar, but I did reap some benefits. Even though the app reported that I spent only 5% of the session with a calm brain, that’s better than nothing. Research says that just a few minutes of focused, slow breathing (even if it’s not perfect) can put serial stress-ers on the road to lowered blood pressure, cortisol, and inflammation. Think Muse might work for you? Here’s the full review: How it works: First, download Calm, Muse’s app for iOS and Android smartphones. Then, put on the headband and allow it to connect to your phone via Bluetooth. Finally, plug in a pair of headphones to your phone. An on-screen guide lets you know when all EEG sensors have made a connection to your brain. Once you choose a session length (3, 7, 12, or 20 minutes), the mediation begins. What it’s like: Muse asks you to count your breaths until you reach 10 and then start over again and again until your time runs out. All the while a soundscape plays in your ears: tranquil, lapping waves and chirping birds if your brain is calm, and hurricane-force winds if your mind has wandered. At the end of the session you can use the app to swipe through charts that rate your performance and award you points. Once you reach 5,000 points (a feat that took me about 6 weeks), Muse offers tailored suggestions to improve performance. The pros: It made me feel like I’d reaped the benefits of a half-hour nap in the space of only 3 minutes. And the Muse interface is seriously user-friendly. Plus, the points system offers an extra bit of motivation. The cons: Fitting the headband properly can take longer than the meditation session itself. And that same points system that motivated me also hindered my performance. Every time I thought about how my score would turn out (“This is my best session yet! Suck on that, stress!”), the winds roared even louder. Also, it’s a bit pricey: $299. Bottom line: Though each session did leave me feeling rejuvenated, Muse didn’t noticeably improve my overall focus or stress levels. Then again, I also didn’t use it religiously. If this is a journey from Type A to zen, I’ve still only taken a few tentative steps from my starting point. Still, they’re steps I wouldn’t have taken on my own—and for that, I give Muse one big, stress-busting, deep breath of approval. MORE: The Fitness Tracker That Gives You An Electric Shock You When You Slack Off
