Meditation – A Simple But Awesome Mental Health Practice
Meditation has been around for quite some time. While it’s not a new practice, it’s proving its value in the mental health and self-care movement.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a technique that connects the mind and body to create a deep state of relaxation. There are various types of meditation, some simple, and others quite complex. While there are many types, we are going to focus on the beginning steps to start your journey towards inner peace.
So Why Is Meditation So Beneficial?
- Reduced Stress
- Better focus
- Clear mind space
- Lowered heart rate and blood pressure
- Decreased anxiety
- Decreased depression
- Opportunity to reset
- Increased self-love, self-awareness, and overall kindness
- Practice focusing on the present
- Overall physical health benefits as a result of the above
How Do You Start Meditating?
If you’re just starting out, begin small. Take at least 5-10 minutes to dedicate towards meditating. As you get more comfortable and advanced, check out other variations of meditation to find what is most helpful to you.
- Turn off the tv and put down your phone. Find a quiet place to sit or stand
- Set a time limit – if you’re just starting out, begin with 5 minutes. Eventually you can work yourself up to longer time limits or be able to meditate until you are naturally finished
- Get calm and relaxed – let your body relax, close your eyes, focus on your breathing, slow down or stop any racing thoughts
- Feel your body – feel your muscles relax, feel the air in your lungs and on your skin, feel the ground beneath your feet
- Refocus – if your mind wanders it’s ok. Just focus on your physical being and breathing to get back into focus
- Repeat a mantra or affirmation – once you are calm, add some positivity into your calm state to help carry your inner peace and calm throughout the day
Find some time each day to take at least 5 minutes to practice meditating. It may seem silly or hard to focus at first, but with a little practice it will become much easier to get focused. Bring yourself some peace and use meditation as a way to practice some self-care. In the meantime, remember that I love you and you should love you too!