How Meditation Transformed My Home Life
If you’re like me with young kids and don’t get much time to yourself meditation can seem like a daunting idea and one that is unrealistic. I also believed it would never “help” me when what I really needed was just more time in my day. Now it’s something I can’t live without!
As women and mom’s we tend to set the thermostat in our homes. If we’re moody chances are the kids will be acting out and feeling our angst. Beginning a meditation practice was life changing for me. When I decided to prioritize my mindset I began to feel better which ultimately lead to a happier home life for all of us!
There are many benefits of Meditation but here are a few I have personally experienced
- better sleep
- reduced anxiety
- pain relief
- better focus
- less reactivity
- improved cognition
- more joy
- better decision making
Start small
James Clear suggests in his book, Atomic Habits, to start with a simple practice that can kickstart the bigger habit you want to cultivate. As soon as I finish an already routine task such as getting out of bed, brushing teeth, finishing my coffee (or any number of things), I go into a quiet space (closet, backyard, quiet room) and just sit. Once you’ve established the hardest part which is starting then moving to the actual meditating is the logical next step. I turn on the Insight Timer app and click on a meditation that looks good to me, music is also another go-to for me or just sitting in silence and focusing on the breath. Anything that can give you a minute to clear your mind. Start with whatever amount of time works for you. Begin with 1 minute and work your way up. I find some days I have more time and some days I have less.
Timing
First thing in the morning can be great since the mind is still quiet from sleep (there is even some science to this as the brain waves are in a state for meditation to be deeper and more effective). I find mid day when we have a quiet time period is a good time for me to feel most relaxed and helps me avoid getting distracted by anything that may keep me busy instead of decompressing.
Environment
Create a welcoming environment for meditation. A meditation pillow, a sound machine with calming music, an electric candle, gems or crystals if you’re into that, anything that brings the idea of meditation and peacefulness to you.
Reward Yourself
Another tip from Atomic Habits is to reward yourself in a way that promotes your new habit (and doesn’t impede your progress). You may want to start a regular practice of having your morning tea right after your meditation or something more celebratory. Completed 10 days straight of meditation? The general well-being you’ll feel may be enough of a reward but it can be fun to choose a reward that will keep the momentum going. Purchase that cozy pillow or some other accessory to keep the relaxation spirit alive. I recently got into buying a few small crystals and a breathwork session to keep my motivation going. Avoid choosing something that goes against your new goal such as taking a day off which would defeat the purpose of your work.
Try it out! Most meditation apps are free to use and you never know what quieting your mind might lead to.
