TIPS FOR MEDITATION: MAKE IT PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
Meditation can relieve anxiety, but you'll have to develop a plan to ensure you stick with it. Follow these meditation tips to get on track.
In theory, meditation sounds effortless. After all, you're just sitting around, relaxing with your eyes closed, right? Nothing could be easier physically.
So why do so many people fail to stick with it?
The problem, much like many lifestyle changes, is that it takes time to turn a behavior into a habit. You get busy, you come up with excuses, and before long, your envisioned chill routine is gone forever.
Meditation habituation takes planning. You’ll ideally develop a daily meditation schedule and follow through on it!
Luckily, we're going to provide some meditation-habit tips that may help you control your anxiety and reduce daily stress.
Here are six steps to make things consistent:
1. Meditation tips begin with commitment: at least 2 minutes per day (for starters)
The lower the time commitment, the easier it is to get started.
Think about it for a second: if you're busy and you have an optional task that'll take you 20 minutes, you'll probably put it off. And shelving that activity can, at least subconsciously, make it seem less important.
The next time you go to do it, maybe you put it off again. After all, you've already told yourself that it isn't a priority.
That scenario is exactly why people fail to make meditation (and a lot of other stuff!) a permanent part of their routines. But there is a solution among these essential meditation tips: make your window smaller, fam!
Give yourself two minutes of meditation time per day because even the busiest people have 120 spare seconds to relax. If you want to meditate for longer, feel free. But make sure you get in your two minutes, and you'll start feeling better about yourself.
2. Choose a time and trigger to start
Figure out a time of day and a trigger that tells you it's time to start meditating.
This concept doesn't necessarily mean that you have to meditate at 9:45 every morning. It's more of a general guideline that lets your body know it's time to chill.
Some people will meditate first thing in the morning, while others do it after breakfast with their first cup of coffee, or once they return from work.
Make your trigger something you do every day, and meditation will eventually become second nature to you.
3. Finding the perfect location is one of the key meditation tips
Choices, choices, choices, right?
Identifying the ideal location for meditation means looking for a quiet spot. It can be in your house, but make sure you get your minimum two minutes in before anyone else is awake.
Using the same spot every day can cause fewer distractions and create good vibes, too.
Some people choose a nearby park or beach, as it all comes down to where you're comfortable. Remember, quiet is key to a practical meditation session.
4. Get comfortable
OK, so quiet isn't the only key; comfort is pretty vital, too.
Don't worry too much about what you're sitting on, as long as it's comfortable for you.
Sure, if you have a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean in your backyard and a custom buckwheat cushion with your name embroidered on it, feel free to use them. Who wouldn't?
But for most people, a pillow on the floor, a spot on the couch, or bench in the park will suffice and provide you with a relaxing place to hang out for a few minutes. Many people even meditate lying down.
Don't worry about buying special meditation gear or anything like that. You don't need it, and it may add pressure to the situation because you'll feel like you have to meditate. You're trying to relieve anxiety, not create more, so simplicity is essential.
Get comfortable, and everything else will begin falling into place.
5. Concentrate on your breathing
Finally, you're ready to focus on actually meditating. And doing it the right way creates a more enjoyable experience that you'll return to day after day!
Make sure you pay attention to each breath. As you breathe in through your nostrils, follow the air as it passes through your throat and into your lungs. You can do this with your eyes open or closed; it's totally up to you.
As you release your breath, follow it back through your body until it returns to the outside world.
Count your breaths, and if you find your mind starting to wander, pull yourself back in and focus, once again, on your breathing.
It will take some time, but your focus will improve each time you try. With practice, you’ll eventually transform into a daily meditator and relaxation expert.
6. Chill out with some CBD
We have a little secret that can quiet your mind, soothe your woes, and help you get out of your own head as—or before—you meditate.
Are you ready?
You can take your meditation to the next level with an assist from CBD tinctures.
CBD is a plant-based, cannabinoid wonder-compound that is great for relaxing, chilling out, and decompressing. It also makes it easier to reset your equilibrium and concentrate on what matters in the moment.
The result: it may help you focus on your breathing and leave everything else behind.
If you're serious about making a habit of these meditation tips, or you just need a little extra help chilling in everyday life, a monthly CBD subscription could be right up your alley!