In the whirlwind of today’s fast-paced world, we constantly move from the early hours of the morning until late into the night, juggling various responsibilities such as work, school, and personal growth. While it’s fulfilling to accomplish tasks and take on new challenges, the rush of adrenaline and dopamine accompanying our daily activities often leads us to overlook our health. Yet, it’s undeniable that maintaining our well-being is essential for a fulfilling and sustainable life journey.
Taking brief pauses amidst our daily tasks is crucial for sustaining our energy levels and productivity. Balancing focused work with active breaks ensures that our stamina remains consistent, allowing us to accomplish more in the days ahead. This balance is especially vital in today’s fast-paced world, where burnout is a prevalent risk that can hinder our work progress and life balance.
This emphasizes the significance of periodically stepping back and cultivating a mindset of mindfulness to keep ourselves centered amidst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives as we transition from one task to another. Such a lifestyle can ultimately cause us to neglect our mental and physical well-being. Observing World Meditation Day reminds us of the value of carving out moments for ourselves, offering respite from the chaos, and allowing for a rejuvenating experience of body and mind relaxation.
Benefits of meditation
From the name itself, meditation is a practice that has been done since ancient times, primarily for spiritual purposes, specifically by devout individuals seeking inner harmony. This leads to a deeper connection with nature and their senses. It promotes a state of mindfulness, grounding us in the present moment, and induces relaxation in the body. Research indicates that meditation yields numerous health benefits beyond mere moments of peace, including:
- Reduce stress
Being present in the moment allows our body to navigate stress more easily and resiliently.
- Manage anxiety
Meditation stands as a widely embraced holistic method for addressing symptoms of anxiety, managing intrusive thoughts, and averting anxiety episodes.
- Sharpen our focus
Being mindful when meditating can ensure that we focus on one thing at a time and pay attention to the state of calmness that can help us respond with clarity and steadiness.
- Better sleep
Aligning your focus through your body senses will boost the calming effects, flowing positive energy throughout the body. This will help you to have more quality sleep.
- Regulates heart rate
As muscles relax and breathing slows down, heart rates settle into a smoother rhythm, resulting in reduced fluctuations and a more controlled, calm heartbeat.
How to meditate
There can be many approaches to meditation, with the same shared goals of being present and mindfulness. Here are some meditation practices that you can do comfortably at your convenience:
Mantra meditation
During mantra meditation, the repetition of positive phrases that, as such, focuses the mind and prevents it from wandering. It can also have a calming and centering effect, helping to tune down internal chatter and promote relaxation and inner peace.
Walking meditation
Unlike traditional seated meditation, which focuses on the breath or bodily sensations, walking meditation focuses on the physical experience of walking itself, typically walking deliberately, paying close attention to each step and its associated sensations.
Mindfulness meditation
In mindfulness meditation, you often use your breath as an anchor for your attention. Focusing on each part of the body sequentially, noticing any sensations, tension, or discomfort in each area. By tuning into physical sensations without judgment, you can become more attuned to your body and cultivate relaxation.
Music meditation
With music, you can shift your focus toward the rhythm and instrument played; engaging your senses with the flow of the tune can help you manage your focus for being present.
As there is no one-size-fits-all, you’re free to tailor it to your preferences, whether it’s the time of day, duration, or specific techniques you employ, all for one aim- to foster a healthier connection with your mind and soul. The crucial aspect is to make your practice manageable and convenient, ensuring you can engage with it consistently. Connect with our BookDoc health coach here for your health companion towards a healthy lifestyle.
Amirah, Dietitian
