Our lives are so busy. Between work, school, household responsibilities, children, and aging parents who need our assistance, the stress tends to pile up. One fantastic way to help gain balance and perspective is by carving out some time for yourself to practice meditation. It has been shown that a regular meditation practice can help reduce stress, clear your mind, and improve creativity. How does one get better at meditation?
The most important tip to getting better at meditation is to be consistent. To the best of your ability, carve out a specific time each day that is dedicated to meditation. The more you practice the easier it will become.
There are also many other ways to help you ease into meditation and become better at it. Not every tip will work for you, but some will. As you implement the tips into your practice, you will find the right combination that works for you, your personality, and your lifestyle. Read on to find more tips to help you create a successful meditation practice.
How Can I Get Better at Meditation?
When it comes down to it, as with any other skill the way to improve is by practicing. It may seem like meditation should be simple, but when you are constantly on the go and moving from one thing to the next, taking the time to be still and calm your mind, can be difficult. It is important to be patient with yourself and not give up too quickly.
Understand that you may have some days where your meditation practice comes a little easier and days where it feels harder. Use each situation as a learning experience that you can implement each time you meditate.
10 Tips to Help Get Better at Meditation
If you have already built up a consistent meditation routine or you are just starting a meditation practice, we have ten additional tips to help you get started on and deepen your practice.
Tip 1: Start Small
We all have seen those videos of serene people who can meditate for hours at a time. You do not have to do that. Start off meditating for a small amount of time, such as 2-3 minutes, and build up slowly from there. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and giving up.
Tip 2: Have a Designated Space
Have a specific area of your home that is for your meditation practice. Avoid switching it up or jumping from room to room. Think through your house and figure out which room has the least distractions and helps you feel the calmest. This is likely the perfect spot.
Tip 3: Use a Guide
Especially if you are just beginning, it can be hard to know how to get yourself started. Not to worry! Many health apps have guided meditations, or if videos are more your speed, there are plenty of guided meditations on YouTube to give you some direction.
(Here are some great sites where you can learn meditation online.)
Tip 4: Take Some Deep Breaths
Depending on the time of day that you are doing your meditation, you may be coming from something hectic, and your mind is racing. Taking several deep breaths before diving into your practice can communicate to your body that it is safe and help your body and mind relax.
Tip 5: Don’t Hold on to Your Thoughts
You may have the idea that meditation requires completely emptying the mind and wonder how in the world you are going to pull that off. Keep in mind that it is not so much about thinking nothing at all, but allowing thoughts to come and go, and trying not to analyze them too much.
Tip 6: Be Kind
We all know how important it is to be kind to other people when they are learning something new. When you are meditating, don’t forget to treat yourself with the kindness you would give others. If you find your mind wandering, remember to not berate yourself. It will be easier to let those thoughts go and refocus.
Tip 7: Laugh at Yourself
If you are intent on being perfect, then you will get frustrated when you don’t meet your expectations. If you make mistakes or need to adjust, just laugh, and let it go. Having a good sense of humor makes it easier to relax.
Tip 8: Use Some Music
Meditating in perfect silence may work for some people, but for others, it can cause their minds to wander to give their brains something to do. If you find yourself in the latter group, try playing some calm, relaxing music to see if it helps you focus.
Tip 9: Have a Set Time
It can be easy to put aside our exercise and wellness when life gets busy, but if we have it set a specific time it is easier to make it a habit. The same goes for meditation. Have it scheduled at the same time every day and it will become part of your every day.
Tip 10: Have No Expectations
While over time the benefits of meditation include stress relief and better health, individual meditation sessions can bring up other emotions, such as sadness or anger, as well. Make sure not to go into your meditation session expecting to feel amazing afterward. It might be different every time.
Final Thoughts
Meditation has many benefits including stress relief, increased focus and creativity, and overall improved health. It may be hard to know how to go about starting a meditation practice or you may have tried and found that it is harder than you expected. There are several things you can do which can help you get better at meditation.
The most important tip is to be consistent. Practice every day, at a set time every day, and have a specific place where you meditate. This will help meditation become a habit rather than an option. Other tips include using some music, a guided meditation, being kind to yourself, and not taking yourself too seriously. Implementing these tips as they are useful to you will help you grow and become better at meditation.
Check out this article on the best books on meditation and mindfulness.
