This paper examines experiences of mindfulness and meditationapplications for handling stress and emotional strain. We presenta qualitative interview study. The analysis focuses particularly onthe role of persuasive functions in the applications, such as notifications,history tracking, maintaining a daily streak, etc. Theresults suggest that persuasive design patterns can interfere withthe original user needs. While providing some advantages for supportingthe establishment of a meditation habit, persuasive designpatterns also create friction between the application and the users’intentions to reduce stress. We critically examine how persuasivedesign patterns, intended for increasing performance and personalimprovement, may affect the users of meditation apps. Finally, wediscuss how persuasive design patterns in the major meditationapps have been instrumental in recontextualizing meditation froma spiritual practice to a productivity practice.