May is Mental Health Awareness Month and is a great time to bring awareness of mental health and wellness. Meditation is a practice that I include in my mind, body, and spiritual journey. However, there are times when I do not practice meditation consistently due to my busy schedule. We have all experienced instances when our schedule changes and life happens, but we should take the time to check within ourselves and make sure we are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
I was presented with the challenge to meditate consistently for 7 days. Each day, I meditated for 30 minutes without any distractions and I can’t wait to share my experiences with you.
I was more focused
I was more focused after I completed a week of meditation. I have a busy schedule and my mind usually races with thoughts. I try to balance work, family, friends, and self-care. Meditation allows me to clear my mind and focus on the present. After my session, I am able to prioritize and complete items on my to-do list. It also presented me with a lot of clarity where I was able to complete my tasks effectively.
I felt less stressed
After meditating for 7 days, I realized my stress reduced. While meditating, I focused on deep breathing and my affirmations. What are affirmations? Affirmations are words of encouragements and can be great pick me ups when needed. Need some basic affirmations to start with? I shared 3 simple affirmations on my blog that can assist you throughout the day. After my meditation sessions, I was no longer thinking about what was causing stress prior.
I was full of excitement
As the days went by, I noticed that I was looking forward to my meditation session that day. I was excited to unwind and relax from my busy day. I enjoyed that I was taking time out to practice self-care to make sure I am balanced mentally, physically, and emotionally.
You can do it your way
When you think of meditation, you may think of sitting with your legs crossed in a quiet room. It does not have to be that way if you don’t want it to be. Create a meditation set-up that is comfortable for you. I enjoy my sessions with candles, the glow of my Himalayan salt lamp, healing crystals, and soothing sounds of rain.
Conclusion
I will definitely make sure to take time to meditate every day, regardless of the duration. I will no longer allow my busy schedule to be the excuse for me to miss my meditation sessions. Consistently adding this self-care practice allows me to balance my areas of wellness and enjoy the time that I was spending with myself. I was able to get reacquainted with the areas that I love about myself and with time, I will learn even more.
