Hello friends!
Now
that we've spend the last couple of days purging our emails, to-do lists, social media and digital space, let's recharge our batteries and practice meditation. If this is the first time for you, don't worry, I have some helpful tips for beginners!
The Goal
- a clutter-free mind
- reduced stress & anxiety
- improved focus & attention
- increased self-awareness
- enhanced immune system
- increased happiness
- improved decision-making
- mental stability
- improved performance in basically any task, physical or mental!
Guiding Questions
Do I have a hard time concentrating?
Does the mere thought of meditating make me feel uncomfortable?
Why?
Do I struggle with sitting in stillness for 10 minutes?
Do I regularly take care of my mental/emotional well-being?
Am I stressed right now?
Do I get distracted easily?
Do I have a chattering mind?
Do I often feel on the fence about decisions?
Do I have a hard time noticing how I feel?
Working Steps
As with all the mental decluttering days, there are no specific working steps to follow. There are, however, a few tips I would like to share with you.
1. Set the mood. Light some candles, and put on your diffuser with calming essential oils such as lavender, frankincense or sage if you have one.
2. Eliminate all distractions. Put away your phone and close or lock your door.
3. Set a timer (10 minutes). That way you can relax fully until your timer goes off.
4. Wear comfy clothes. We don't want anything pinching, or compromising your breathing. Also, make sure you sit comfortably, maybe rest your hands on your thighs or in your lap.
5. Focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath, then blow it out slowly and as completely as you can. When breathing in, tell yourself: "I'm breathing in". Breathing out say: "I'm breathing out". Here's the hard part – your attention will wander away from your breath, perhaps instantly. When you notice this, focus it back on your breath. Do this until the timer goes off.
6. When breathing, try to slow down and elongate your breathing cycle. Try to inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 – you can do it!
7. With every inhale, imagine filling your body with fresh air and energy. With every exhale, imagine letting go of anything that is no longer serving you. Maybe exhale through your mouth, a nice audible breath, like an ocean wave :)
8. If the whole breathing technique isn't for you, try this 5-4-3-2-1 exercise. Pay attention to what's around you. Take note of
- 5 things you can SEE
- 4 things you can FEEL
- 3 things you can HEAR
- 2 things you can SMELL
- 1 thing you can TASTE
9. Take your time getting out of your meditative, observant state. Slowly begin to move your toes and fingers, then extend the stretching to the rest of your body. Then slowly, gently, open your eyes.
10. Try to maintain that state of inner calm and peace throughout the rest of your day. When ever something stressful happens, try to check in with yourself, take a breather and remember to take things slow.
That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed this restorative session today :) See you tomorrow – all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! 😊
♥
Maisy
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