The world can be a stressful place. Relationships, jobs, and juggling long lists of errands everyday can leave people exhausted mentally and emotionally. Learning to handle stress through the use of mindfulness meditation is the key to staying calm in hectic times and dealing with what life throws at us.
Practicing Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation can be done anywhere, but finding a quiet place makes it easier when you first begin. Sit comfortably. Begin focusing on each part of your body beginning with your feet. Tighten the muscle and hold it for a few seconds before moving on to your legs and upper body. Feel the tension lessening as you release. Work your way up to you hands and arms. When you have finished, focus on your breathing. One breathing technique that is helpful is to breath in for six seconds, hold the air in your lungs six seconds, exhale for six seconds, hold the breath out of your lungs for six seconds and repeat. The goal of these beginning exercises is to quiet the mind by putting all of your focus on something else.
Next, find a word or phrase that is calming to you such as “inner peace”. Repeat the word in your mind or say it aloud if you wish. Your mind might wonder, and that is alright. Gently bring your thoughts back to the phrase. Pay attention to how you feel when certain thoughts cross through. Are they uncomfortable? Do they help you in any way? If they are causing despair or anxiety then consider why for a moment, and then let them go. The point of mindfulness is to begin to control your thoughts and feelings instead of letting them control you.
The Most Effective Mindfulness Techniques for Busy Schedules
These Mindfulness techniques are simple, convenient, and effective, these can be used anywhere at anytime to battle the daily stress we all encounter.
Deep Breathing
One of the best mindfulness techniques used in stress management is deep breathing. Something that can be done at work or home, it simply involves breathing from the stomach and making sure you inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Not only will the physical act of deep breathing help to slow down your heart rate and keep the stress hormones in check, but it will also help clear the mind by letting you focus on the breathing itself. By closing your eyes and concentrating on the sound and rhythm of the breathing, you can calm down very quickly.
The Sound of Music
While music can soothe the savage beast, it can also be very therapeutic physically and emotionally. Whether it’s classical music from Beethoven or the latest pop hit from the Billboard charts, music has been proven to be a great stress reliever. By focusing on the sounds and vibrations of each note and the feelings they generate within you, it’s possible to clear out any negative thoughts you may be experiencing and replace them with positive ones. understanding change
