Hello everyone! Happy New Year!
I read a lot of self improvement books last year and all of them at one point or another talk about meditation and how it can really improve our lives. Meditation can help us rewire our brains, redirect and stop the bad thought patterns that we have created in our minds. Meditating can reduce stress and help calm us down by bringing us back to the present instead of dwelling on the past or getting anxious about the future.
I’m not the most experienced with meditation and I am in no ways an expert, but there are a lot of resources out there in the form of books, articles, YouTube videos and even apps. Here’s some resources that have helped me and I hope they can help you, too.
Pick Up Limes (3-part YouTube series)
Sadia’s YouTube videos are a great place to start if you want to dip your toe into the mindfulness waters. She recorded her videos in beautiful, serene locations too and they are incredible views to look at.
Headspace App
I took a meditation course with my dad a couple years ago and for me, I find that it’s easier to meditate when I am listening to an instructor because my mind wanders so easily. This app makes meditation a lot easier for beginners because it has 3 min, 5 min and 10 min guided meditations. It’s guided meaning there is an instructor walking you through each inhale and exhale and body scan. This app helps you set goals so you can strengthen your mindfulness muscles haha. Headspace does have a free option, but if you want to unlock everything there are different payment options that range from $12.99/monthly and up. Here are the Headspace app links for iphone and android.
Calm App
Do you have trouble sleeping? Because I do lol. Those dark thoughts about not making enough money and low self-worth come out at night to haunt me. Lately I’ve been trying Calm to listen to bedtime stories. They also have guided meditations you can listen to, plus those relaxing ambient sound effects like rivers flowing, birds chirping, rain pouring and more. Also if you want some piano or lullaby music they have that, too.
It really is calming and soothing to listen to and I highly recommend it. I listened to one of the bedtime stories just last night and I woke up feeling pretty good this morning. The stories, music, sound effects and guided meditations really help drown out all that dark, negative and unnecessary noise that goes on in my brain at night. The Calm app is free but it does have a subscription option of $4.99/month to unlock all the features. Here are the Calm app links for iphone and android.
I am still new to meditation, but for now these resources have been helping me. Thanks for reading! I hope that this post was useful and that it helps you start your meditation journey. Exercise your mindfulness muscles and get swole hahah.
