Reboot In A Minute

Self-care.       Self-care? 

What exactly is self-care? 

The dictionary definition of self-care is "the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress". These certainly have been stressful days. We all have different stresses and we all have different ways of dealing with that stress. Take time to relax and calm your mind, body and heart. 

Meditation is a wonderful tool for self-care. It can help you understand your emotions and in doing so lower your stress. Looking inward can help you connect better to the people in your life. It also improves your focus by helping to reduce the noise of brain chatter. 

Stress reduction is one of the main reasons people try meditation. Studies have shown that as in as little as 8 weeks the body responds to "mindfulness meditation". 

Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. It combines meditation with the practice of mindfulness, which can be defined as a mental state that involves being fully focused on "the now" so you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. 

Techniques can vary, but in general, mindfulness meditation involves deep breathing and awareness of body and mind. Some people find one of the various apps helpful to get started but really the only thing you need is to be able to be still and focus on your thoughts. Find a comfortable place to sit, wear something comfortable and start out with 5 minutes of breathing in and out, focusing on your breath. How it feels when you breath in. How it feels when you release. Take time to become aware of your thoughts but just be a witness to them. Don't judge them or yourself. Think of your thoughts as beautiful clouds rolling by in a blue sky, take note but move on. If you find yourself getting too caught up in anxiety or fear just return to focusing on your breathing. Focusing on the present moment is the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness Meditation can reduce stress, which can help with sleep, which in turn helps overall health.

You can practice mindfulness doing little things during the day like brushing your teeth, doing dishes, exercising or even folding laundry. Just think about the tooth brush going up and down or how relaxing it can be to fold a warm towel. Doing Mindfulness Meditation doesn't have to feel like a major commitment. Studies have shown that just meditating 3 or 4 times a week can make a difference. You'll find that once you start Mindfulness Meditation that it will be a practice you can come back to over and over again.