Self Care Guide: No More Anxiety, More On Meditation
By Katie Pierce
Between work deadlines and the many tasks on your to-do list, taking a break for self care is a must. Stress can manifest itself in different ways. There are the usual skin concerns, such as acne, that serve as a sign that you’re under a lot of pressure. You might also find yourself more easily irritated by small matters if you’re severely stressed. It’s best to take a break to recharge. Try to take time to collect yourself and relax - otherwise, you may not be able to perform as well in many other aspects of your life. While everyone has their own way of spending their self care time, meditation has been known to be an effective way to minimise anxiety and stressful thoughts. But how do you start?
What is Meditation?
You may have seen some yoga influencers on social media do it. To put it simply, it’s a way to try and turn your attention towards specific thoughts in such a way that calms your mind. In the fast-paced current state of the world, practicing an activity that helps you slow down and take time to breathe can be beneficial. Still, it can become much more than simply de-stressing. You can actually get to know yourself better through meditation. It’s a chance to deep-dive into your innermost thoughts - a way to understand your perspective in a much clearer way. Such a newfound clarity can change the way you go about your day-to-day activities.
Different Ways to Meditate
It can be overwhelming at first, especially for those who may not necessarily be too familiar with it. A great part of it though is that you can make meditation as personal as you’d like. There are many different types of meditation - you get to choose for yourself.
Zen Meditation
This type of meditation has its roots in Buddhist psychology. It requires sitting in a crossed-leg position, while focusing the attention inwards. During the process, it’s also important to maintain the correct posture. In zen meditation, a general awareness of one’s surroundings is essential. The main objective is to be able to increase awareness of your own preconceived notions as well as insights into yourself.
Mindfulness Meditation
For those who want to practice mindfulness meditation, it is important to turn off anything that may serve as a distraction. This includes any mobile devices, your laptop, the TV - anything that might turn your focus away from the meditation. Eventually, you would be able to naturally focus without turning to thoughts of anxiety or worry.
Guided Meditation
In this type of meditation, you would need to practice visualisation. This is common for those who are trying to achieve a specific outcome. If, for example, you’ve been worrying about a huge presentation at work, you can try to imagine the outcome. Visualise yourself doing well, specifically the way you’d feel in the moment.
Transcendental Meditation
This sort of meditation revolves around repeating a specific mantra. As per the other types of meditations, any sorts of distractions need to be minimised. Try to set aside around 10-15 minutes in a comfortable area. The mantra you choose doesn’t have to be too long. As long as it inspires you and it gets you through, you may use it.
Other Self Care Activities
If you think you’re not the type to meditate, there are still a lot of other self care activities that can help with any anxious thoughts or worries. For women, worrying about menstruation leaks can be an added stress. Using period underwear can get rid of the extra worry. On a more general note, eating a healthy meal can actually do wonders for your mental health. The same goes for exercising regularly and going outside for a walk. Drinking water - or a warm cup of tea - can also help. Even something as simple as taking a shower or a bath can lift your mood, if just for a while.
There are also more mentally-stimulating activities that can serve as good ways to take care of your mental health. You can turn towards any of the hobbies you currently have. Maybe curling up and reading your favourite book would be a great way to take a break. Listening to music, or an educational podcast, can also help you rest. You could take up journaling as well. There are gratitude and reflection journals that allow you to become more mindful of your own thoughts and emotions on a regular basis.
Mindset Change
Ultimately, practicing regular self care requires a change in mindset. You would need the kind of mindset that can commit to putting importance on self care. After all, only you would know your limits, especially when it comes to feeling burnt out or stressed. You shouldn’t allow yourself to be driven to the brink of exhaustion. You deserve to be mentally healthy - without feeling guilty for trying to help yourself.
Katie Pierce is a freelance writer and preschool teacher. Energetic enough to keep up with 5-year-olds all day, she also finds the time and focus to write regularly.