Go here, go there, get this, get that and repeat each day – it’s no wonder that more and more people are reporting that they are burnt out, tired and overwhelmed with the demands placed on them in all areas of their lives. From your personal life to your work life and then through in your social life, it seems like you would be better off cloning yourself so that everyone is happy because you are in two places at once.

You need something that will center your mind, allow you to relax and regain focus while helping you connect with your inner you – you need meditation in your life. Meditation has been practiced for centuries in various forms by people from all walks of life around the globe. There must be a reason that the practice of meditation has been around for so long and why people regularly continue to do it.

So, let’s find out together why people love to meditate – regardless if it is for five minutes a day or an hour; combined with a yoga session for the full bodily experience or done in a quiet room.

The Setup for Meditation

It is no good to start a meditation routine without having your setup down pat first as this can make the difference between a good meditation session and a so-so one. First, you’re going to want a quiet room that has adjustable lighting and is off the beaten path in your home. You don’t want people coming and going into the space in which you are meditating, and you don’t want a room that you can hear people walking past with regularity.

Once you’ve secured your room, remove all the possible distractions from it. Remove access to your laptops, smartphones, and tablets and even remove the television remote. You don’t want a blue screen interrupting your meditation session because a text message or notification.

Now you want to adjust the lights to a soft glow or if it’s daytime, allow for some light to filter around the edges of your window covering to illuminate but not brighten the room. You want the dim lighting to lull you into a sense of relaxation and compliancy to get the most out of your meditation session.

Positioning is whatever is most comfortable for you – some people prefer to sit on the floor using pillows and cushions while others prefer an upright position with the wall at their back. Whatever is most comfortable for you personally and will allow you to relax the most is the one you want.

Set the mood by using an essential oil diffuser to disperse a relaxing or soothing scent through the air. To find out more about essential oil diffusers; click here.

Why it is Important

Meditation has a number of benefits, both physically and mentally, as proven by multiple clinical and non-clinical studies. Those who practice meditation have a better understanding of their mental health, potential triggers for panic and anxiety attacks and they can calm their mind in case one of these triggers get through mental blocks. Meditation is soothing for those with anxiety because it involves repetition during the internal mantra portion of the session. The routine is always the same and this can soothe a battered mind. Those with self-confidence issues can use a mantra along the lines of “I am enough, I am worth it” to truly start to believe it.

Meditation also benefits the body physically as it releases tension from the muscles after all day while slowing the heart rate to the point it can reduce a person’s blood pressure. Those who practice meditation have also shown in studies to have a higher immune system and less hormonal fluctuations.

Some people even combine meditation with yoga sessions which allows them to work on their mental focus while pushing the limits of their body to a new level. This makes meditation a total body and mind workout!

Conclusion

If your first, second or even tenth meditation routine doesn’t go according to plan, don’t stress about it. It takes time, practice and improved focus to become a dedicated meditation practitioner. Don’t be too hard on yourself and just keep trying. Only meditate for short periods of time starting out, for example five minutes and not a minute more. These short sessions will train your brain to focus on when commanded and eventually, meditation will become second nature without you even realizing it!

Take the time during your meditation session to truly feel the strength in your body, the air flowing in and out of your lungs, and just focus on yourself along with what you can achieve. Even if you are stressed at work, you can slip away to an unused room and just give yourself five minutes to center yourself and clear your mind to face the tasks ahead.

There is a reason that so many people practice some form of meditation and isn’t it time we all tried a little relaxation in our lives?