Why you should meditate

How do you meditate, and why is it important for a healthy life?

Meditation is more than an Eastern metaphysical practice. It's a very valid technique that can help you find perspective and insight in yourself. Meditation also offers numerous mental and physical health benefits. Why not try making meditation a daily healthy habit? Incorporating even five minutes of meditation into your daily routine can offer you incredible benefits.

Maybe you've tried meditation before. Maybe you sat still in the lotus position, breathing deeply, trying to relax and felt... nothing. Maybe you felt silly, or gave up thinking that you had done something wrong or that meditation wasn't for you.

Maybe you were approaching meditation with the wrong mindset. Too many people in the west don't truly understand what meditation is or how to meditate. There's a common belief, popularized by media and pop culture, that meditation can unlock the secrets of life, or give you some sort of special powers to become one with the universe. This is entirely misguided, missing the entire point of meditation.

Today, we are going to discuss what meditation is, what it isn't, what the benefits of mediation are, and how to meditate, even if you are a complete beginner.

What is meditation?

Meditation is a practice where a person sits still, calms his or her mind, and tries to become more aware of themselves and their thoughts, and gain perspective about themselves.

Meditation is the cultivation of mindfulness, that is, being fully present in the moment.

When you meditate, you try to clear your mind of distracting thoughts and experience the present as it really is.

What meditation isn't

Meditation isn't magic.

Meditation doesn't solve your problems, and it doesn't give you the answers to life.

Meditation doesn't give you any superpowers. It doesn't magically make you a better, wiser, smarter, or stronger person.

Meditation doesn't remove negative thoughts and emotions, but rather allows you to look more closely at the, and evaluate them more objectively.

Instead, meditation is simply a practice of looking within oneself and evaluating one's own thoughts and perspectives.

Why you should meditate

The mental health benefits of meditation

• Meditation can help you put your life and problems into perspective.
• Meditation can hep improve your memory.
• Meditation can make you feel calmer and more positive.
• Meditation can help you to manage anxiety and depression.
• Meditation can help you to control and reduce stress and negative emotions.

The physical benefits of meditation

• Meditation can help you relax and can help lower your blood pressure.
• Meditating before bed can help you to fall asleep more quickly and have much better-quality sleep throughout the night.
• Meditation can help to strengthen your willpower and self-control, which can help to break addiction and bad habits.

How to meditate

Sit or lie comfortably.

Close your eyes.

Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose.

Focus your attention on your breathing. Focus on the breaths going in and out of your lungs.

If your mind wanders, let the thought go. Don't follow it. Bring your mind back to focusing only on your breathing.

There is no real goal to meditation. There is nothing you should be thinking about. Just be. Try to exist in the present. This is mindfulness. Try to notice how you feel calm and relaxed.

How long should you meditate daily?

At the beginning, I recommend starting with just five minutes of meditation a day. That's not too hard! Everyone can fit five minutes into their busy schedules.

Just five minutes of morning meditation can help you become centered and calm before your day begins. It can help reduce your stress and anxiety and control your emotions better throughout the day.

Five minutes of meditating at bedtime can help you be prepared for sleep. It can help you relax, calming your heart rate and blood pressure, and preparing your body for a good night's rest.

Meditation for beginners

Morning meditation for beginners

Sit on the floor, in a comfortable chair, or even just in your bed. Just get comfortable. There is no special posture to sit in.

Close your eyes. Breathe in and out. Focus on your breathing. Try to think of nothing else. Don't think of what you have to do during the day. Don't think about what to make for breakfast or what to wear. Don't think about how sleepy you are. Don't even think about how much longer you have to go. Just think about your breathing. In and out.

When your five minute timer goes off, open your eyes. You are ready to face the day!

Bedtime meditation for beginners

Put away your phone. Brush your teeth. Get completely ready for bed.

Sit in bed. Close your eyes. Think of nothing. Try to control your breathing. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Feel your heart rate slow down. Feel your stress from the day melt away.

Be calm.

That's it.

Simple, right?

Resources to learn meditation for beginners

Of course, there's a lot more to it than that, and there are tons of free resources online to help you learn how to meditate.

Open up YouTube and search for guided meditations. There are also plenty of meditation timer apps that you can download for your smartphone to help guide you in meditation as well.