Getting Started with Meditation
It is no surprise that meditation is not the easiest thing to do, but it is something everyone can learn how to do with the right methods. Here are some tips for beginners to meditation who want to truly benefit from the practice.
Start with Shorter Sessions
If you are struggling with meditation in the beginning, don’t worry! It gets easier the more you do it. Just keep at it and don’t give up. One thing you can do now to help with your meditation as a beginner is to start with shorter sessions. Don’t try to go for 30-45 minute meditation sessions until you really believe you can do it for that long. Start with just a minute or two of deep breathing, then gradually increase how long you do it for.
Practice Every Day
Meditation, like anything you learn how to do, requires practice. Don’t try it once or twice and give up just because it is difficult. Yes – it is hard in the beginning. People are not born with a natural ability to meditate in most cases. Everyone who masters this practice has done so by practicing! Start meditating each and every day, even if you just start with a minute at a time. When you are brand new, you can start with guided meditations as a way to ease into the practice before attempting solo meditation sessions.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
It is a good idea to always be mindful of your surroundings when you are meditating. This begins by creating a relaxing space for meditation, but is also useful when you are doing mindful meditation, or meditating outside the home. With mindful meditation, you are not necessarily closing your eyes and closing off the world, but instead are paying close attention to everything around you, all your senses, and what is going on in that moment. In the case of meditation on the go, you will be clearing your mind for activities like walking, running, swimming, driving, and listening to music, where you pay attention to your surroundings and use them in order to help you meditate better.
Keep it Simple
Always remember to keep meditation simple. Don’t try to do hypnosis or deep meditation during your first few sessions. Start small with just breathing exercises for a few minutes at a time, then gradually with more practice, it will become easier to reach different levels of meditation.