Feeling A Little Overwhelmed… And A Little Under-Inspired?
If you’re a busy professional, it probably seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do. You may be stressed out, sleep deprived, or simply just too exhausted to have a social life or family time. When we are busy, we don’t make our self-care a priority. But I am here to tell you.. meditation is not as time-consuming or as difficult as you think it is.
When it feels like you’re working 24 hours a day, trying to fit in ONE more thing may seem impossible. But… what if I told you that you can reap the benefits of meditation in as little as 10 minutes per day.
Why Meditate?
In the past three years, meditation has gone from being stereotyped as the weird breathing rituals of hippies, to becoming a popular and viable practice in mainstream society.
Even science has taken a serious look at meditation for reducing stress and anxiety, including work-related stress.
Studies show that meditation can also change the way you cope with the stressors of work, keep you focused, make you more productive. Not to mention, has been proven to help you sleep better. We all know how much we NEED more of that!
Sounds Awesome Right?
Here’s what you need to know in order to fit a simple meditation practice into your busy day:
The heart of mindfulness meditation is being aware. Mindfulness at its’ most basic, is simply the practice of being fully and aware in the current moment.
It asks you to pay attention to the here and now, rather than being distracted by worries about the future or reliving the past.
It sounds to simple to be true. I know. But practicing this-being really truly present-for a mere 10 minutes can leave you calm and refreshed, focused, energized, and ready to tackle whatever life throws your way.
Are You Ready To Give It A Try?
Find a space where you won’t be disturbed for 10 minutes. Once you become more familiar with it, you can practice mindfulness anywhere and at any time. In the beginning, it is better to have a quiet place.
Find a comfortable position. You can practice sitting up in a chair or on the floor. Or you can even practice lying down, although if you have a tendency to fall asleep, you might want to consider doing this before you go to bed.
Once you’re in a comfortable position, take a deep breath. Feel the breath flow into your lungs. Here the sound of it rushing in and out. Engage all of your senses. Focus them all on the process of breathing and ignore any distractions. This is what mindfulness is all about. GETTING RID OF THOSE DISTRACTIONS!
If thoughts cross your mind, AND THEY WILL, don’t get distracted by them. Notice them, acknowledge them, then bring your attention back to your breath. It can really be a challenge at first, but stick with it and don’t give up! You will find how rewarding it is and how you will reap the many benefits.
Now, if you’re like me and prefer a guided meditation. They can be very helpful, particularly when you are just starting out. There are several that I can recommend and you can download them to your phone. I find these incredibly helpful when I am on the go, or before bedtime. Some have free versions and some you may need to pay for:
Hope you find these tips useful!
** Please note that I am not a medical or mental health professional. These are simply personal best practices that I use to reduce stress and are not meant to be used to treat any ailments or conditions. Please seek the guidance of a medical professional before adding any new practice into your daily life.**
