5 SIGNS YOU NEED TO MEDITATE
“Meditation is not a means to an end. It is both the means and the end.”
As the post-pandemic world starts getting busy again we may find ourselves slipping back in to the bad habits we promised we’d change during lockdown. Our lives may be slightly different but this still brings challenges and new obstacles to overcome and finding moments of peace on a daily basis can still elude some of us. Anxiety about returning to social environments or over work situations can have a detrimental effect on our physical health.
Last year I began a regular meditation practice and recently I have increased my time in stillness, bookending my day with two different types of meditation (each about 20 minutes) whilst also using my art to fit in brief moments throughout day when I am at home.
Slowing down and living more mindfully has had a significant impact on my physical and mental health, and while I can’t say it is solely because of the meditation (I have changed a few other things in my daily routine too), I think it is definitely a contributing factor to my increased energy levels, my ability to handle emotions with complete awareness and my general focus.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned below, it’s a sure sign you need to slow down and take some time out to meditate. The good news is there’s an easy way to alleviate symptoms of stress without quitting your job and hot-footing it to an Indian ashram.
OVERTHINKING
This can be defined as repeatedly thinking the same thoughts over and over and can manifest itself in such ways as second-guessing yourself (“should I have done…instead?”), worrying over things that may or may not happen (“but, what if…?”) or perfectionism. Going over past decisions or future-tripping about things you have no control over is extremely draining and can lead to symptom number two:
INSOMNIA
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to maintaining our mental health. If you lie awake at night with thoughts racing around in your head a pre-bedtime meditation can do wonders. In order to be able to fully relax and recharge our bodies during sleep we must first learn to rest our minds. How many of you spend your evenings checking social media or binge-watching the latest Netflix drama then going straight to bed? Consuming so much information keeps our brain stimulated and it continues to try to process everything we are seeing even after we’ve stopped seeing it. Then there’s the whole issue of blue light (which is another topic altogether!) so it is important to allow ourselves at least an hour before lights out with no electronic devices so that we can wind down. Meditation is a great way to calm ourselves and let the sleepies kick in.
“Slowing down and giving ourselves permission to enjoy moments of stillness may sound counterintuitive but it is hugely beneficial.”
OVERWHELM
It’s easy these days to fall in to overwhelm. So many things demand our attention and there’s always so many plates to keep spinning. We have never-ending to do lists, we’re constantly being bombarded with information and the speed at which 21st century life happens means we feel like we’re forever chasing our tails. If we fail to keep up and on top, whether in business or in our home lives, we feel like we’re drowning. This feeling is a common one that for many of us leads to…
PROCRASTINATION
This is my red flag. I know exactly when I’m procrastinating - usually around the time my self-assessment is due! When we have things to do that we either don’t want or know how to do we procrastinate. For me this looks something like rearranging the furniture, doing a deep clean or deciding to declutter. While these are sometimes necessary, it’s my way of putting things off. I have learnt to recognise the signals and now know that spending just half an hour in meditation can help me find the clarity to do what I need to do.
YOU’RE ‘TOO BUSY’
There’s an old Zen saying that if you’re too busy to meditate for 20 minutes then you should meditate for an hour. I love this because it’s so true. I often hear people say that they don’t have time to meditate and it makes me laugh because that’s exactly why they should! When we’re trying to do a hundred things at once we can get either caught in the overwhelm/procrastination cycle or we burn out and end up making ourselves ill. Stress and anxiety raises blood pressure and cortisol levels and weakens our immune system which is no good for anyone. Slowing down and giving ourselves permission to enjoy moments of stillness may sound counterintuitive but it is hugely beneficial. Doing so helps to keep our bodies healthy and our minds clear which means we can do more with less effort.
Meditation is growing in popularity in western culture thanks to an increase in scientific studies which have confirmed the many health benefits of the practice and I’ve devised a simple way for you to gain precious moments of stillness throughout your day by using a visual aid. If you’re still dubious about the traditional ‘eyes-closed’ form of meditation or find that you’re easily distracted, you can use art to calm your mind. It has been scientifically proven that art can have a positive effect on the brain and can stimulate emotions such as love and joy. Having a focal point forces us to stop and studying a painting closely with intention keeps us firmly anchored in the now. Being completely present frees us from worrying about past and future actions. Combined with breath-work and affirmations (optional), visual meditation can be just as effective as the normal kind and you don’t even have to leave your desk!
Alongside my larger works I have created a capsule collection of smaller framed pieces specifically for this purpose. These Mindscapes are perfect for your workspace or bedside table and offer you opportunities during the day to forget your to-do list for as long as you need.
Meditating never looked so good!
Kx