Something for Yourself: Meditation

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Meditation is one of the most recommended forms of relaxation and stress reduction.  It is easy to learn and only takes a few minutes a day, so even if you are new at it you can still enjoy the benefits right away.  I have been meditating on and off for a few years now.  As one doctor explained to me, meditation is a chance to do nothing for a few minutes of your day.  While meditating you are free from worries and concerns that typically stress you out.  

Here is a great article by Daily Makeover on how to get started with meditation.  Either follow the instructions listed in the article or try it on your own.  There are plenty of ways to get started with meditation and different formats work differently for each person.  

The way I started meditating is by finding meditation podcasts on iTunes and doing guided meditation.  This made it easier for me because I needed to hear a voice that would guide me along the meditation.  For me, sitting in a quiet room is a perfect recipe to let my mind wander and start to overthink things, which is the exact opposite of what you're trying to achieve.  One of my favorite podcasts is called Meditation Oasis.  

There are also apps you can put on your phone that can guide you through meditation.  Here's a link to a previous article I wrote about the meditation apps I use and why I like them.  Some of them include visualization to help you relax, which is another form of stress relief I like to use.  Visualization is also great in helping you achieve your goals, similar to what we discussed last week with vision boards.

However you decide to bring meditation into your life, remember that it takes time and practice to quiet your mind and relax your body.  The more you do it the better the benefits you will see in your life.

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I am always looking for new meditation podcasts and apps, so if you have any favorites please share them in the comments below.

Next week I will talk about establishing a morning routine that will allow you to get your day started off on a positive note.