No matter how you slice it, I’m a high-strung person. Always have been, even as a child, and I probably always will be (fortunately for me, Bazooka appears to share that trait—parenting is going to be fun stuff).
Tension is my middle name (or may as well be), and relaxing is often a struggle.
Relaxing! That should be the simplest thing in the world, and for most people, it probably is.
Nevertheless, true relaxation is difficult for me. My mind is always spinning and my hands are always fidgeting, but I realize living in a constant state of anticipation and hypervigilance isn’t exactly the best thing.
Hence why, in an effort to be more present and to experience more serenity in my life, I’ve begun to meditate.
Meditation is not something I’ve perfected, but even in a couple weeks, I feel like I’ve made some progress.
Some Thoughts On Meditation
Being completely honest, I thought the idea of meditation was a little too hippy-dippy, even for somebody who values most holistic approaches to wellness like I do.
I mean, who has time to sit cross-legged on the floor for 30+ minutes, right?
But, as I’ve learned, meditation doesn’t require a lot of time. Nor does it require sitting cross-legged on the floor in utter silence, save for the repetitive chant of “om.”
In fact, it’s really easy to work daily meditation into your normal workday and routine, and I swear it has helped me regroup during challenging moments at work and at home.
Meditating has allowed me to practice responding to stressful and emotionally-taxing stimuli as opposed to reacting in my typical defensive, “fight or flight” mode.
My Favorite Meditation Aids
My therapist is big into my mindfulness, so when she suggested incorporating daily meditation into my life, I was on board.
She recommended several assisted meditation apps, and I downloaded 3 to try out: Buddhify, Calm, and Headspace.
The anglophile in me loves the British accent on Headspace, but apart from a few sample meditations, this app requires a $7.95 monthly subscription. No bueno—at least not right now.
Calm is a free app, but it, too, requires in-app purchases.
That left Buddhify, which costs $4.95, but includes dozens of unique meditations.
While I’ve done a few “traditional” assisted meditations (e.g., the silent, still ones), I’ve really taken to walking meditations.
You all know by now I love my daily park walks, so for me, this is killing two birds (err, gently and mindfully caressing two birds?) with one stone.
Why I Love Walking Meditation
Even though most assisted meditations are short (some are 2-5 minutes, others I’ve come across are 10-12), I still find it challenging to truly sit still and quietly to take part in them.
But with walking meditations, which sound paradoxical, I can get my daily steps and focus on calming myself and being present in the moment.
Walking meditations encourage the practitioner to pay close attention to their movements and surroundings, yet at the same time, they encourage stillness and focus among those outside stimuli.
Almost every day last week, I took short (5 to 12 minute) walking meditation during my lunch break, and I truly noticed a difference in my mood and tension levels. The meditations encouraged me to physically slow down (I’m a fast walker!), which resulted in my slowing down mentally and emotionally.
I had some stressful mornings (hello road rage!)—which led me to some moodiness and snippiness—but my afternoons went so much more smoothly.
I’m actually looking forward to discussing the effects of meditations at my next session, and I want to try and incorporate more traditional meditation into my mornings or evenings.
Daily #meditation: it’s not just for hippies! #anxiety #mentalhealth @buddhify Share on X[linking up with Amanda for thinking out loud]
So tell me…
- Do you meditate?
- If so, how has regular meditation affected your life?
- Do you have any go-to apps or podcasts for free (or affordable) assisted meditation?
Ashley | Fit Mitten Kitchen says
This is really interesting Catherine! I’ve been very intrigued by meditation recently but haven’t fully given it a fair go. I like the idea of walking and meditating though – might have to try that!
Catherine says
You should try it! Definitely feels more natural than traditional meditation, though I’d like to feel more comfortable with it, too.
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says
I’m so glad I found you on the link up today! I posted about my love for meditation for the first time today too! It’s been a practice that I’ve enjoyed for a while now. I practice when I can and I find it helps keep me balanced. I haven’t tried walking meditation yet, even though there are guided ones on the app I use. This was a great post girl! Looking forward to following you!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
Catherine says
Thanks, Amanda! I’m going to check out your post!
AmberLynn says
Love meditation and have been writing tips and topics in my How to Meditate series. Recently I have started using Yoga Nidra to help me release.
Catherine says
Definitely need to check out your series! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar says
This is interesting. On the one hand, I think of myself as *terrible* at meditation. My brain is always spinning around something–my anxiety meds help a little with that, but not a lot. In the last couple of days, though, I’ve tried to be really focused and present on my walks, just noticing things like the flowers, the sounds of crickets, the stars, art people have put out in their yards, etc. Would this kind of mindfulness–just paying really close attention to all my surroundings and trying to set aside the rest–be considered a form of ‘meditation’?
Catherine says
Hmm, I am the same way, so I definitely think that’s a form of meditation. Others may disagree, but it’s all about what benefits you, right? I think any way we can slow down, get out of our heads and the thoughts we ruminate is super important.
Alyssa says
walking meditation or moving meditation through yoga is absolutely amazing! try meditating with some relaxing music- Spotfy has great playlists for that!
Catherine says
I need to start doing yoga at home for sure. I’ll try those playlists!
Naomi | Naomi Why: Roots says
I really like walking meditation. I also like to brainstorm ideas and/or reflect on life while I’m walking, so I’ll dedicate the first part of my walk to meditation/being mindful, and once I feel full, I can think about other things so much more clearly! I’m also a fast walker, and I love how you said walking meditation has helped you slow down physically and emotionally. I think that’s so true.
Catherine says
That’s an awesome strategy. I love how my walking meditations clear my mind for the second half of my work day.