The Benefits of Meditation
The holiday season is an exciting time of year that we all look forward to, but as we mentioned in our previous article, it can also be hectic and overwhelming. Studies show that Americans experience higher stress levels during the holiday season mostly due to managing family commitments and navigating through all the hustle and bustle. If this sounds like you, now is a great time to start practicing meditation!
Practicing meditation trains your mind to focus your awareness on the present, which slows your mind down and helps you relax. This state of calmness doesn’t just feel good, it’s very beneficial for your health as well. The strongest link that has been proven between meditation and overall health is its ability to reduce stress, which can trigger or exacerbate several serious conditions, including heart disease, obesity, and even anxiety disorders. Meditation also:
- Improves memory and cognitive thinking
- Promotes emotional, mental, and physical well-being
- Increases ability to focus and pay attention
- Improves mood and increases feeling of compassion and empathy
- Reduces pain, inflammation and risk of disease
5 Tips for Successful Meditation
To help you have a more successful meditation practice, follow these tips from Headspace, Prevention and Insider:
- Don’t Get Upset When Your Mind Wanders: This is the most important tip! Many people quit meditation completely because they feel like not being able to keep their mind from wandering means they have failed. That is not the case though! It is natural for your mind to wander, especially during busy or stressful times. In fact, recognizing that your thoughts have drifted and then refocusing on your practice is a major part of meditation in the beginning.
- Make Yourself as Comfortable as Possible: You don’t want to be so comfortable that you fall asleep, but you don’t want to be uncomfortable either. For example, sitting cross legged on the floor for several minutes can cause your back or hips to ache. This will most likely make your mind focus on the pain instead of your practice. Small adjustments, such as adding a cushion or switching up your position will set you up for success.
- Let Go of Your Expectations: Do not go into your practice with expectations of how you will feel afterwards or how meditation will improve any one aspect of your life. Go into your practice each day recognizing the opportunity you are giving yourself to get to know your mind better and let the benefits occur naturally.
- Add Meditation to Your Schedule: Planning a time to meditate each day during the holiday season is key. You can even put it on your calendar to help ensure you make time for your practice every day. Keep in mind that you should schedule it for a time that works best for you both now and in the future. Whether that is when you first wake up, after your morning tea or coffee, during your lunch break, right before bed, etc. Health Designs also offers virtual meditation sessions to help guide you! Contact us today to learn more.
- Create a Meditation Space: Choose or create a space that is specifically for meditation to help train your body and mind to feel more comfortable and allow you to transition into meditation more easily. You can also get creative with your space and add decor or other elements that help you feel relaxed and at peace. Think of it in the same way you’d only go to your home office to focus on work.
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