Today's tip: Engage in meditation
Meditation is often misunderstood. People envision an individual sitting for an hour with an entirely quiet mind. When this image is the perception people have for meditation, they are likely to shut down the idea of trying without a second thought. They think, "there's no way I could do that, so why even bother wasting my time?" Meditation, however, can be much simpler and more easily achieved. Meditation can be done almost anywhere and can be as short as a few minutes. There are numerous resources available online to get you started. For example, www.mindful.org has a full "How to Meditate" page with several short examples to follow as a beginner. To start, let's try their first two minute meditation:
"1. Get comfortable and prepare to sit still for a few minutes. After you stop reading this, you're going to simply focus on your own natural inhaling and exhaling of breath.
2. Focus on your breath. Where do you feel your breath most? In your belly? In your nose? Try to keep your attention on your inhale and exhale.
3. Follow your breath for two minutes. Take a deep inhale, expanding your belly, and then exhale slowly, elongating the out-breath as your belly contracts."
So, how do you feel? Was it as hard as you thought? Hopefully, not! However, if it was, meditation can take some practice. Carve out a few minutes each day to pause and take a moment to try again. Research has repeatedly shown that engaging in a daily meditation practice can reduce stress, control anxiety, enhance self-awareness, improve sleep, increase focus, and boost problem-solving and decision-making strategies. Some studies are even showing physical benefits of meditation in managing pain and reducing symptoms in some medical conditions.
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