3 Tips for Beginning Meditation

At the beginning of the year I started meditating and journaling. I've journaled every day but only meditated every other day, which I still consider an achievement.

I started doing both these practices to try and be more engaged in the moment. To be present and aware.  It's definitely a process but I am seeing some incremental changes. I realize when I'm distracted and take a few deep breaths before redirecting my focus on the task at hand. 

I've also been putting my phone away at night (number one source of distractions). When I lay down in my bed to go to sleep, I would use that time to scroll through social media. Then I would have a hard time actually getting to sleep because of the sensory overload.  Now, when I crawl under the covers I put the phone face down on my nightstand and turn away from it.

The process of meditation is also helping me be more creative and productive as well. It's only been 18 days but I've made some noticeable progress. The hardest part for me is making the time to actually meditate but I notice if I do it at the same time everyday it becomes more habitual. I would definitely recommend that everyone practice some form of meditation or conscience awareness to help eliminate stress and distractions. Here are some tips for getting started:

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1. Find a tool to guide you- Guided meditation is probably best for newbies because you have someone talking you through the process and timing you as you go. There are a ton of apps for this or websites. I use the Stop, Breath & Think app. They provide a list of meditations such as Mindful Breathing, Be Present, Gratitude, Change, Falling Asleep and much more! You can meditate for as little as 3 minutes or up to 20 minutes. 

2. Find a quiet space free of distractions- Turn off the TV and turn on the "do not disturb" feature on your phone so that you aren't getting calls or notifications. If you have kids or pets at home, go into another room or wait until they are napping. For meditation to be effective you need that uninterrupted time. You want to be able to quiet your mind and focus only on your breathing.

3.  Find a comfortable position- You typically see images of people meditating in the "lotus" pose (crossed legs and wrists resting on elbows) but you do not have to meditate in this position. Just get comfortable and make sure you are in a position, preferably sitting, that is comfortable. You will have to release the tension from your arms, shoulders, legs etc. So you want to make sure you are not cramped or at an awkward angle that might keep you from focusing.

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The point of meditation is to get you to focus on you breathing and to slow your hear rate, which will help relieve anxiousness and stress. The hardest part of meditation is keeping your mind from wandering while trying to be present. BONUS TIP: Focus on an image in your mind of the ocean, or the sky or floating in a swimming pool.  These calming images should help you find your center and keep you focused.