I practice meditation every day. Sometimes multiple time through the day. It only takes a few minutes for a quick calming of the mind. I do, however, prefer 20-30 minutes in the morning. That seems the ideal time that works for me.
Meditation may not be what you think it is. The purpose is to calm the mind. Why does that matter? We can only focus on a limited number of things. Might it be important to focus on the things you want to focus on? Sounds simple enough but if you were to journal your daily activities you would discover that staying focussed is not an always an easy task.
Get your to do list out from yesterday. Did you get it all complete? Not making yourself right or wrong ask yourself what got in the way?What pulled your attention away from your task? It can be like a cat chasing its tail at times from all the distraction around us. I remember cleaning my house one time when I had this cat and tail realization.
I started in the kitchen. Found something to put away in the bedroom. Started working in my bedroom. Found something to put away in my front room. Began working on a project in my front room. Found something to put away in the dining room. While in the dining room, found something to put away in the kitchen. After about an hour and feeling frustrated and incomplete the light bulb went off. I had chased my tail back to where I originally started from. I felt out of control of completing anything even though I did get some things done there was no feeling of closure and completeness that I wanted and needed in that moment.
We can only focus on 7 plus or minus 2 pieces of information at any time. Meditation can help clean the clutter. Find a comfortable place to relax with minimal to no distractions. I like to use a single candle in my front room. The time is important for me too. As the day goes on it seems to get more distracting in my house.
The focus is to NOT think about “stuff”. lol. You will be surprised how challenging this can be at first. Focus on deep breaths through the nose. Breathe in and out slowly through your nose. Maintain a comfortable and good posture. Feel the air come in and leave out your body. feel your chest rise and fall.
When the “stuff” shows up, and it will. Focus on breathing. Release the thought with a simple unspoken word. “kids, work, friend, car”, etc. and let it go. Release the thought, do not attach yourself to the thought. Let it flow by you like water in a stream. Let it go. Return to focus on your breathing.
I have found this sort of self care is something I can’t wait to do. It’s calming. It sharpens my senses, alertness and strengthens overtime.
Additional meditation resources: http://www.learningmeditation.com/
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