It's been just a little over a week since I threw down the gauntlet in front of my procrastinating self. To keep it all on front street, I managed five out of the seven days in the meditation challenge. I mostly sat down in the evening and did about 20 to 30 minutes. It was a great practice and it made a good difference in putting the work day firmly behind me instead of layering a blanket of digital stimulation over the stress. I just let it work through my mind and clear out.
The days I missed were regretful, but there's not much sense in beating myself up about it. One of the days I missed was Saturday. The reason I mention it is that weekends tend to be a lower stress time and the raw need to relax is less intense. That's actually the best time to meditate because you're doing so in a relaxed state already. Rather than being reactive to a busy day, you can do some preventative maintenance and help make the following work week that much smoother.
Meditation can get you out of a jam; but it works even better when it's a consistent hum regardless of how good or bad you're feeling.
2 comments:
I'm somewhere on two weeks continuously. I know there isn't meant to be a "winner" to this whole thing, but I'm happy I'm sticking with it again. Last fall was really the first time I put significant effort into continuing to meditate every day and I saw huge gains in my day-to-day life. My stress, and subsequently, anxiety were greatly lowered ... and then Christmas happened and I fell out of practice.
Since Christmas I had only been meditating off and on, but for whatever reason never had the resolve to really get back in the groove. And that's where I want to be, in the groove because I use meditation as a daily practice, but also as something helpful in the midst of crisis during the day. Feeling nervous, anxious or just plain weird? Close your eyes and breathe. So simple, but it's a lot easier for me to calm myself when I'm in the groove of meditating. I don't feel like I've hit that spot yet, but I will soon, I'm sure.
And yeah, weekends are the hardest for me. There's usually too many opportunities to meditate and if I don't jump on the first one I tend to drag my feet.
I made one day. I blame videogames.
More seriously, I was only getting to sit down to meditate really late. I've been tired and, hey look I'm making excuses.
It did remind me how much I enjoy the meditation. I'm starting a new week now so will aim for another 7 days.
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