I don’t have time to meditate
I don't have time to meditate. But I do have time to grab a quick cup of coffee ☕️
Okay, Mama, let’s be real!
We know that you probably don’t have time to add another item on your to do list!
Your baby just woke from their nap, you got a pile of dishes and laundry to do, and on top of that you’re sleep deprived!
You definitely don’t have time for anything too long or complex!
All you need is a few minutes to get you started. A simple 2-5 minutes between meetings or after lunch can get you started on creating this practice into a habit.
So, let’s get started!
Let’s start with the WHY!
Why do YOU need meditation?
You wear many hats. You take care of your little human, work, take care of the house chores, and a million other things.
Yup, I can see why you may not have time.
Motherhood is not an easy task, but it can be so beautiful. Seeing your little one smile makes it all worth it, even if you are exhausted!
So here’s the amazing thing about meditating. It can allow you to enjoy more moments like these and relieve stressors that weigh you down.
How meditation changed my life!
WOAH…I don’t know where to even begin of how meditation has made me into a calmer and more patient individual.
I’m a very active person and quite the multi-tasker (although, this is not good and I’ll tell you why in another post).
I started with yoga, which was difficult enough. Breathing into each pose and holding it?! Yeah that was hard enough, so never thought sitting and closing my eyes was even a possibility.
AND THEN….
My head began to race, my breaths became shorter, I couldn’t breathe, I started to black out…
Yup, I was having a PANIC ATTACK!
I didn’t realize what was going on, until I returned to my normal breath.
I never felt or saw myself as an anxious person. Honestly, I thought I was pretty normal and had things under control. BUT, clearly I didn’t.
In the midst of the pandemic, my anxiety and stress levels increased. Not only were we in lock down, but I was afraid of getting COVID and getting those around me sick.
So naturally, I avoided going out in general…just to walk my dog and go to the grocery store. Even that gave me anxiety.
After suffering from a family loss, my fear, anxiety, and stress was unbearable.
I turned to MEDITATION.
It taught me to control my breath, to settle my mind, and let go of thoughts. I noticed my stress, anxiety, and sleep improve.
My panic attacks decreased and I started to feel more like myself and be able to think clearly!
Perhaps you can relate, perhaps you don’t. But know that meditation can help ease you into motherhood when you are having a hard time focusing, sleeping, feeling a lack of energy, or even trying to get things done effectively.
5 tips on how to get started:
Don’t stress about meditating - go easy on yourself!
If it’s your first time, it can be very frustrating.
I remember the first time I tried to meditate by myself, I kept getting distracted and then getting frustrated because I couldn’t STOP THINKING.It’s okay, I learned that this is part of meditating. Becoming aware that you are distracted, thinking about the million things you need to do is the first step. It’s not easy, but I promise it gets easier.
There’s no right way to meditate. By simply finding 2-5 minutes in your schedule to close your eyes and breath, you’re already doing it! With time, your focus becomes stronger and your racing thoughts start to disappear.Simply, honor this moment that you are taking for yourself!
Finding space for a few quiet minutes
Now, finding a quiet space to meditate can be difficult when you constantly have the baby crying or the kids running around.
It doesn’t have to be anywhere special. You can start by meditating while your kids nap, in the bathtub, in your car, or when you’re at work. You can also find some time in the morning, during lunch time, or in the evening (once your kids are asleep).
Just by meditating a few minutes a day, you will start to feel the benefits of this beautiful practice.
It’s a skill you master with time.Get comfortable
Now, you have selected a few spots where you can sneak in a quick practice, now let’s get comfy!
Get a meditation cushion or pillow to help elevate your hips if you’re sitting on the floor. It will help lengthen your spine and release any pressure from the hips.
If this isn’t an option, you can try sitting in a chair by placing your hands on your lap and feet flat on the floor. Otherwise, you can lay on your bed and meditate!Find whatever feels the best for you! Each day may look a little different.
Close your eyes and focus on a meditation of your choice
Check out my previous post for different types of meditation options!
Gently close your eyes or find a point to gaze on (a non-moving point) to help with your focus.
Find your focus
As a beginner, I always recommend a guided meditation (you can find some great meditations in Insight Timer, Calm, or YouTube). Using visualization as part of the meditation can help with your racing thoughts and focus on something that brings you joy!
Once you find your meditation flow, you can try other forms of meditation. Mantra and body scans are two other ones I’m trying now!
Don’t forget to make this fun!
You are more likely to continue this as a new habit when you make it enjoyable!
Go splurge on yourself a little (as part of your self-care)!
Grab a cute meditation cushion and journal to get you started. You can also incorporate candles or incense to make it more relaxing!
Now that you’ve gotten this far…clearly you know now that meditating is not as scary.
The benefits of meditation can include:
increase focus and clarity
decrease stress, anxiety, and depression
allows you to be more present for your kids and partner
allows you to find peace and stillness in your very fast paced lifestyle
allows you to ease into motherhood
So how do you make this into a habit?
No worries, I’ll talk about this in my next blog!
HAPPY MEDITATING!
Namaste!
Andrea xoxo
