3 Simple Meditation and Stress Reduction Tools

Most of us know that stress is not healthy for us, yet how often do we stop to think about the impact it might be having on us mentally, physically and emotionally. When pressure builds up inside our head or body from problems at work, in a relationship, or even in our personal finances, then this is when we usually start to notice stress.

From finding it hard to switch-off our busy minds so we can relax and have a good night’s sleep, to feeling like there’s just so much to do and worry about these days as the pace of life gets faster, the simple act of enjoying life seems to get further away.

Some people tend to ignore stress or push it aside hoping it will go away, while others turn to things like smoking, drinking, or even eating to help cope with it. None of these strategies work very well in the long run because they typically end up causing more problems than they resolve.

Meditation Techniques For Stress Reduction

If you’re finding coping with the pain and suffering that stress can bring at work, home, or in life, then perhaps it’s time to have a good look at how meditation can help. At first, it may seem a little weird that anything as simple as sitting quietly doing nothing can have such a big impact on our health and well-being.

In fact, I was one of the biggest skeptics around when it came to meditation. To me it was a bunch of hocus pocus that people who had a life didn’t really need. That was until I l found myself broke and without a job or anywhere to live. That’s when I started to experience anxiety filled days and sleepless nights constantly worrying about how I was going to get out of the mess I was in.

As I’ve never been big on prescription medication I started searching for a natural way to reduce my stress and anxiety levels. Basically, I needed a way to get out my head as it was the non-stop thoughts about the future that were driving me crazy. I tried affirmations, reading self-help books and a variety of things before I reluctantly went along to a meditation class.

From the very first session I was hooked. It was like I could breath deeply for the first time in a what seemed like forever. The first meditation I was taught was a guided visualisation. I was amazed at how something so simple could help me to feel a deep sense of calm and peacefulness with very little effort.

From that day on I have pretty much never missed a day of meditation, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. My meditation journey took me around the world in search of the best of teachers as my thirst for knowledge and experience grew. To this day I have studied more than 120 different meditation techniques that can be used for a variety of mental, physical, emotional and spiritual purposes.

5 Simple Meditation and Stress Reduction Tips.

1. Find a good meditation teacher or meditation course to get started with. If you have a good experience of meditating when you are learning then it makes it easier to commit to it and get so momentum going in your meditations.
2. Do your best to meditate at the same time of every day. I like the mornings as it helps to start the day in a calm and peaceful way. Afternoons are also a good time to meditate as it helps to quiet the mind after a day of non-stop thinking and distractions.
3. Meditate every day without fail – even if it’s just for 5 minutes. It’s just like building a muscle at the gym. The more frequently you train the mind to be calm, the better the results will be.
4. Don’t take your meditations seriously. In fact, it’s not healthy to take anything in life seriously. Instead, find a way to have fun with your meditation journey and only do it if it brings you more happiness and joy.
5. Stress is a habit of the mind. While you may think that stress is what happens as a result of to many things to do, or financial problems, or relationship issues, the reality is that it’s not what happens in our everyday lives that causes stress – it’s how we react to them. Meditation will help you to get less caught up in the reactive mind and emotions which will leave you with a greater sense of calm and confidence that you can handle whatever comes your way.