In our busy society, the body and mind experience constant stimulation and stress. The intent of the practice of meditation is to clear the mind, making you feel calmer and more at ease. Taking time to just relax can help prepare you to take on life’s challenges with a fresh perspective.
Turn Off Electronics
The computer, television, cell phone and radio all distract your mind. Turning off these electronic pests for even an hour can help you find peace and quiet—allowing you to become more aware of your own thoughts. If you are able, try living without these for a full day to give you the time and space to reflect without outside influences.
Try Silence
Commit one day, or even just a few hours, to silence. Encourage your family to enjoy a meal without speaking or perform household chores in complete silence, recommends Anne LeClaire, author of "Listening Below the Noise," featured on the Yoga Journal website. LeClaire maintains that silence helps you to find pleasure in the small things in life, and lifts both health and spirit.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be helpful in bringing about relaxation. Use essential oils in a distiller, as a candle or in a lotion to help ease your mind and soothe your senses. While dozens of oils may help you relax, lavender, sandalwood, chamomile and jasmine are a few effective examples.
Find a Peaceful Place
Find a place in your home that instills peace, such as a bedroom or a flower garden. Make this place your own personal sanctuary and fill it with items that bring about positive feelings--perhaps a photo of a loved one or your favorite book. Employ this space for your personal quiet time and relaxation--not as a place to bring your laptop to check emails or to talk on the phone.
Reduce Expectations
Do not expect to meditate for hours at a time when you first begin. Strive for just five to 10 minutes of quiet sitting and reflect on your thoughts. Try focusing on your breathing—just acknowledging how the air enters and leaves the body. You may find at first that meditation seems to make you even more distracted, but you are just learning how busy your mind actually is—over time, you will find sitting quietly becomes more natural and pleasing to your senses. As you become more comfortable with being alone with your own self, you may extend your meditation time. Make your body comfortable as well. The website “How to Meditate” recommends sitting with a cushion slightly higher in the back than in the front to tilt the pelvis and help the back remain straight.
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