Meditation. Everyone says its good for you. The CEO of Linkedin, Jeff Weiner, uses Headspace daily to bring more focus and clarity to his life. Ariana Huffington says she does yoga and meditation almost every morning to avoid burnout and stay on track. Countless other CEO’s, leaders and other super successful people fit in 10-30 minutes a day of this practice to keep their game on point.
My question: How is it possible that they can fit it into uber-busy, running sh*t kind of day, but I can’t?
A practice of daily focus can help you train your brain, and nervous system, to slow down and breathe when in the face of a stressful situation. Studies have proven that spending a few minutes a day focusing on your breath, the sounds around you, the feeling of your chair/floor/ground beneath you can have significant benefits on your mental, and physical health.
Number One: Less Stress. More Focus. Taking yourself out of your current situation, even for a few minutes, can help you see clearer. It calms your mind, slows your breathing, and moves all of the (maybe irrational) thoughts off to the side and allows you to see the bigger picture. Check out this legit science based study on the chemical reactions in your brain that happen as a result of meditation: Science Daily
Number Two: Time for YOU. Just like working out, hiking, reading, learning, etc. are all things we do for ourselves, meditation should be on that list too. Life is filled with to-dos for everyone else – why not take 10 minutes to for YOU, so when you do need to show up for the world, you are ready!
Number Three: Make time for NOTHING. Most of us are running from one calendar invite to the next, but rarely stop and do nothing. For me, this is why I haven’t added this to my daily life. I’m not checking off something on my to-do list. I’m not being productive. But, what is more important than mental clarity and stress reduction? AND… more rest can lead to better performance in life. It’s like wearing one of those ab crunch belts on the couch and getting up with a six pack! Doesn’t feel like work, but the results are huge!
So, less stress, anxiety, cortisol spikes (hello fat-storage) and more clarity, focus, direction and vitality… all with meditation. Why have I NOT been doing this? If leaders of Fortune 500 Companies can block out 10 minutes… this girl certainly can too! Will you?
Apps to try to get started: Headspace, Calm, The Mindfulness App.
Inspired Best Self 