Why Everyone Should Be Meditating in the Morning
By Kelsey Martin From Modernize.com
Home for the holidays may sound exquisite, but what if the lyrics to that treasured Christmas tune aren’t all they seem? Sure, the holiday season is wonderful for celebrating loved ones, sightseeing, and sipping hot cocoa. But what about the hustle and bustle, the to-do lists, the stress, the family dynamics and that jam-packed social calendar?
The truth is: no matter what time of year it is, we all deal with stress, and left unmanaged, it can cause excessive tension in our lives. The good news? You can totally do something about it! Here at Modernize, we love to start the day off with peaceful meditation.
Your alarm clock is blinking 6 a.m. and screaming a rock song to wake you up before your important meeting. Sound familiar? You’re probably already walking toward your coffee maker, or perhaps you’ve timed it to start steaming as soon as you jump in the shower.
Instead of a sugar-infused, caffeinated beverage, why not rely on internal peace to start your day? Many coffee-drinkers order that grande espresso to boost their spirits, and while we love coffee, we know that meditating in the morning is more effective at waking you up on the bright side.
Anxiety Management
Nervous about a huge presentation, or a possible promotion? Anxious thoughts are vicious, and they try to ruin the best of people, relationships, and careers. Don’t let them!
Meditation is a natural way to reduce anxiety and leave you with a sense of calm. That calm is established through an awareness called mindfulness. When practicing mindfulness, you are aware of exactly who you are in that moment, and you accept yourself. You’re simply observing without judgement, and without pushing yourself any way. You just are.
Take Life Into Your Own Hands
Instead of surfing through your emails when you first hear the alarm, put your phone to the side and find a comfortable space. We suggest setting up a meditation or yoga mat, and you’ll want to use a quiet space that’s secluded from the rest of the home. This can be an outdoor garden, an indoor studio, or even just a corner of the room near a window.
Meditating has many variations, just like yoga. But here’s a great way to start: Settle into a comfortable position and spend five minutes in silence. Pay attention to your breathing. What does it sound like? How does it move in and out of your nose and your lungs? Don’t worry too much about your thoughts. Just simply be.
As thoughts flutter into your mind, decide which ones to keep and which ones to discard. A happy, peaceful person understands that not every thought is helpful or true. Learning this skill and practicing it on a daily basis enables you to continue sorting thoughts throughout the day.
Establish a Routine
As with anything, whether learning to play an instrument or creating a workout schedule, staying committed to daily practice is key to enhancing your skills. Soon, you will be able to meditate longer. It will become second-nature to you, like brushing your teeth or combing your hair. Be patient and endure through the difficulty, so you can reap the peaceful benefits of a quiet, calm mind.