So far this year, there’s no shortage of things to be stressed about (we could list them out, but really, who wants to read that?!). And while we wish we could wave a magic wand and get rid of everything that’s stressing us out, it’s just not possible (that letter from Hogwarts never did come …).
But what we can do is work on managing our stress and feeling calm, even when life gets chaotic. The best way we’ve found? Meditating.
Meditation has been shown to reduce stress hormones and help you feel calm and focused. It can even help with physical signs of stress like tension headaches, high blood pressure and insomnia. Lots of people (including us!) have been using it for years to help deal with everything life throws at us.
But like any new habit, meditating can feel challenging to start and stick with. So if you want to give it a try but aren’t sure where to begin, we have some help:
Start with an app. One of the easiest ways to begin is with guided meditation, and apps like Headspace, Calm or Healthy Minds Program (a free one!) offer plenty of options. Just plug in your headphones and let the app lead you. From there you can always develop your own meditation practice, or keep going with their guided sessions, whatever works best for you.
Give yourself time. It’s possible you’ll feel some improvements after your first meditation, but realistically it takes at least a few sessions to notice a difference in your stress and mindset. Commit to meditating for at least 10 minutes a day for at least 10 days and hold yourself to it. After that initial time, you can evaluate how you’re feeling and whether you want to make changes to your routine.
Get an accountability buddy. True, meditating is generally a solo activity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get support from a friend. If someone you know is also interested in getting started, make a pact to check in on each other and offer encouragement. You could have a daily text, “Finished your meditation yet?” and share what’s working for you or any struggles you’re having along the way. Go ahead and share this post with a friend or two to see if they want to be your accountability buddy.
Stressful situations will always pop up in our lives (think how boring things would be if they didn’t!), but with meditating you’ll be better prepared to handle that stress and stay cool, calm and collected.
Here’s to less stress and more calm!
XO,
Emily and the EveryDay Happy Team
Quote du jour
“To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.” ― Jill Botte Taylor
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