How to Meditate

What is meditation?

Meditation is the perfect way to train your mind and get in touch with your spiritual, higher self. Between work, family, chores and social engagements, a lot of people believe that they have no time for meditation, but if you find just ten minutes for yourself in the day, you will reap the benefits; meditation is all about quality, not quantity.

The benefits of meditation, physically, mentally and spiritually, are endless. The health benefits include lowering blood pressure, boosting the immune system, and helping ease anxiety, stress, and depression. Meditating also provides the perfect opportunity to clear the mind, getting rid of the clutter, and help deal with the stresses that life can bring.

There are many methods and techniques that different people use to meditate, but the basic principle is to focus and quieten the mind, and control your breathing. Below are a few simple tips to help you begin.

How to meditate

Make time. We’re all busy and sometimes it feels like the only time we manage to be still during the day is when we go to bed at night, but all you need to find is just ten minutes in your day. If possible, get up a little earlier, or set aside some time before you go to sleep.

Find somewhere quiet, where you can be alone and relax. Make sure that you’re comfortable and won’t be distracted; turn off any electronic equipment such as phones or TV sets, so that you can be completely focused. A lot of people find complete silence unsettling and prefer to play soft, relaxing music in the background; you can find playlists made especially for the purpose of meditation.

Many people like to meditate outside, as it connects them more to nature, and the fresh air helps to clear the mind. Just make sure that if you decide to meditate outside, that you stay clear of busy roads or parks where you are likely to be distracted by constant, loud noise.

Breathe. The most basic, but most important part of meditation is to focus on your breathing, as it helps to calm and focus the mind. Close your eyes and listen to your breathing, and notice as your mind becomes calmer.

Focus on silencing the mind. We have a constant chatter in our minds a lot of the time, as we are constantly thinking about what we are doing, and a lot of the time, we’re also trying to think about what we’re going to do. The only time we give our minds the chance to rest is when we go to sleep, and even then our subconscious is active when we dream.

It’s never a good idea to try to force yourself to meditate, as trying to relax when your mind isn’t willing to will just frustrate you and end up causing more unnecessary stress. The best time for a lot of people is at the end of the day, just before bed, when everything is completed. Most people find that meditating at this time causes them to fall asleep more easily and have a deeper, more restful sleep, waking up more refreshed and ready to face the next day.