Basic meditation is a great way to create a sense of peace and calm in your everyday life. This practice yields many mental and physical health benefits. If you’re thinking about forming meditation habits in your daily life, here are some practical tips to get you started.
Start Your Day In Quiet
The morning time is the best time to meditate. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. Begin your day with a period of quiet time and reflection. This makes it easier to form the habit if you do it at the same time each day.
Start Out Slow
If you’re new to the meditation practice, it’s best to start out with just a few minutes of stillness. Begin with 2 minutes and increase the number as you get more comfortable. While sitting still for 2 minutes sounds simple, you want to make those minutes focused and purposeful. If you feel like you can sit longer, go ahead and try it out.
Concentrate On Your Breath
Our lives are so busy, we don’t often pay attention to our breathing. Focused breathing allows you to slow down. It calms the mind and the body at once. Basic meditation techniques focus on breathing deep and slow.
Focus Your Attention
Your mind will likely drift off during this new habit you’re forming. Your mind will probably think about things such as your daily tasks, friends and family, what you’ll cook for dinner, and other things. Work on focusing on your attention to your practice. This is where your breathing will help you with that.
Don’t Overthink
It’s easy to think you’re doing something wrong when you begin a new habit or practice. In this case, don’t think about the things you’re doing wrong. There isn’t a wrong way to practice meditation. This is an individual journey.
Be Committed To Change
Just like any new habit, it takes time to notice a change. Before you begin each day, commit to staying open to the change as it takes place. You may find yourself wanting to give up at some point in your practice. Make a decision to stick with meditation for a certain time. Devote a few minutes to your practice for at least a few weeks.
Find Friends To Join you
Some habits are best formed when you have a community of friends to support you on your journey. A community is a few friends or an online group of supporters. The goal is for you to walk the journey together. Plan to touch base with your community on a daily or weekly basis.
Benefits of Meditation
There are many physical and mental benefits when practicing meditation. While everyone experiences a sense of inner peace and calmness, some people also experience:
- Less stress
- Healthier physical body
- Joyfulness
- Slower aging
- Better immunity and cardiovascular health
- Deeper self-awareness
When you take more time for self-reflection, you create the desire for a better lifestyle and improved mental health.
Practice Basic Meditation Anywhere
The great thing about meditation is that you can practice it anywhere at any time. If you’re feeling stressed at work, find a quiet place and close your eyes for a few moments. When you’re stuck in traffic, turn off the radio and practice breathing deeply while you wait.
Another great thing about meditation is that you don’t always have to sit down. The goal is to create a focused mindset in all areas of your life.
Whether you’re walking in the park or doing the dishes, make the time for meditation with these practical steps.