Meditation, a mindfulness practice that has helped thousands of people over the years, is more challenging than it may seem. There can be days when the best of us struggle to shut our minds off while meditating, but the key is to be consistent. To achieve that calmness, you need to practice the technique with consistent effort. Here are a few tips that may help you.
Explore Different Types of Meditation
Before deciding what works best for you, you should explore different types of meditation. Not every technique will fit well with your personality, but there are certain techniques that are universally functional. Breathing techniques are one of the most fundamental and are very effective. You can achieve significant effects by focusing just on breathing techniques. Exercises that focus on breathing, include box breathing, belly breathing, and listening to ocean sounds.
Environment Matters
Another tip for mediating in the most effective way is to sit in an environment where there is peace and quiet. If there is background noise in the room, you will not be able to focus. Especially for beginners, it is important to note your surroundings so that you can focus just on your breathing and block out extraneous noises. In order to maximize the benefits of meditation, research has indicated that you should select the same location and time for each session.
Keep Low Expectations
Remember to keep a check on your expectations. Do not try to successfully reach all your goals on the very first day. You should start with baby steps and, once you feel comfortable, explore. Keep your expectations at zero if you wish to utilize meditation to its fullest extent. Simply begin, learn to tolerate discomfort, and then give yourself permission to examine your body and mind. People frequently feel unfavorable feelings at first, but do not panic and leave the session. Try again until you feel comfortable.
Consistency Is Important
Practice makes perfect. If you feel discomfort in the initial days, do not lose hope; keep going! It is far preferable to practice meditation daily for at least 10 minutes than only once a week for 30 minutes. Your body needs time to adjust to your new lifestyle. Therefore, it is extremely important to not rush the process and instead work towards your goal every day. You will experience the benefits when you regularly practice breathing awareness. Even easier, you can practice mindfulness at any moment. It just entails giving the present moment all of your attention.