How and Why You Should Start Meditating
Meditation is an approach to training your mind that can bring peace and fulfillment to all aspects of your life. Many people don’t know what they should be thinking about when meditating—a common myth is that meditation is all about stopping your thoughts, when it’s actually about learning to step back and observe them. It can be difficult for beginners to sit for an extended amount of time with an “empty mind,” so here are some tips to starting your own mediation practice and how it can benefit your life.
Tips to Starting Your Own Meditation Practice
- Start with a guided meditation. Headspace and Insight Timer are both excellent apps with a variety of guided meditations and calming music.
- Try meditating for 5-10 minutes a day, and then increase the amount of time slowly but consistently. Example: Increase 2 minutes a day or increase 5 minutes a week.
- Close your eyes. This helps reduce distractions and direct your focus inwards.
- Find a comfortable seated position where you feel supported and relaxed.
- Breathe naturally but focus on each inhale and exhale.
- Set an intention for your meditation, whether it’s simply clearing your mind or using a guided meditation on attracting abundance or finding inner peace.
- There is no right or wrong time of day to meditate. Don’t worry if you miss your meditation in the morning—just try to fit it in at another time throughout the day, maybe on your lunch break or before bed.
- Put your phone in another room, or set it on silent if you’re using a meditation app.
Benefits of Mediation
- Less anxiety and stress: Meditation provides an overall better feeling of well-being and connection to yourself and the world.
- Better focus: Meditation can help you stay on task longer, switch between tasks less frequently and enjoy your tasks more.
- Deeper relaxation and sleep: Guided meditations use sound and visualization to create an atmosphere for healthy, restful sleep.
Remember, life is short. We can live it lost in thought, or we can choose to be present as life unfolds around us.