I cannot meditate in a box. I cannot meditate with a fox. Nor in a house. Nor with mouse. I cannot meditate here or there – I struggle to meditate anywhere. Not with an app, not with essential oils, not short of buying a sound bath kit on Amazon. There are a few ways however, to try to reach the ultimate goal of mindfulness and calmness.
The opinions are based on personal experiences, observations, and some research. Research includes Wikipedia. Bite me, this is a personal blog. The following recommendations should not serve as a prescription as I am not a medical professional.
1. Move It
Indian Mystic Rajneesh (Osho) is credited with the concept of “active meditation” or “Dynamic Meditation,” involving physical movement leading to silence. He actually suggested over 100 methods of meditation. As in the opening disclaimer, the following is merely an interpretation of this concept of mindful physical movement, not totally based on the teachings of Osho.
Take a walk around the neighborhood. Go for a run, if that’s your thing. Put on some music and just dance. If you decide to go to the gym or do a workout, I would recommend picking a predetermined routine or writing down what you want to do ahead of time, so you can stay in the zone and not have to think too much about what to do next until you’re finished.
The goal is to minimize distractions and focus on how your body feels, how the music makes you feel if you’re listening to any, how the fresh air smells, and the rise and fall of your breath.
There are many popular subscription services or programs with paid workouts, but free platforms like YouTube and Instagram offer plenty of workout routines, including yoga. Some of the ones I’ve used in the past include “Yoga With Adriene,” “Blogilates,” and “Boho Beautiful.”
I’ll do a separate post with free resources for workouts.
2. Read
I am often guilty of becoming a TV zombie. It’s just too easy to tune out and tune in for some audio-visual entertainment. Reading, on the other hand, requires more attentiveness and brain power in general. When I say read I mean really pay attention – look up words you don’t know, take notes on quotes that speak to you. And I’m not talking about People magazine either. If you find that you just can’t concentrate and are reading the same sentence for the 10th time, try a different method on this list and re-attempt.
3. Try a new recipe
I love cooking. Some people love baking. I see cooking as an art and baking as a science and while I appreciate both, I prefer cooking because it’s harder for me to screw up. The margin for error in baking is much larger because one wrong measurement could be the difference between a fluffy, spongy cake and a hot brick. Whichever you choose, the reason I recommend using a recipe is the same reason I recommended using a pre-established workout above. It gives you steps to follow and a direction toward a goal instead of an open ended equation which could lead to more stress.
This option also yields a great reward, which is something hopefully delicious to enjoy when you’re done.
4. Take a bath or better yet, a shower
Admittedly, baths sometimes have the opposite intended effect for relaxation. During the latest bath I attempted to take, the water wouldn’t get hot, the drain wouldn’t stop leaking, the bubble bath wouldn’t get bubbly enough, and I couldn’t find a comfortable lounging position. It also didn’t help that I was trying to watch the Vice Presidential Debate at the same time, but that’s a me problem.
With showers on the other hand, you can actually get clean instead of sitting in your own filth. They also usually utilize less water, may be better for your skin, and can more easily disguise your ugly crying.
5. Have sex or masturbate
This should not be a primary coping mechanism because it could lead to other dependency issues. However, once in a while it can be a good way to practice mindfulness – focus on your partner, yourself, and the sensations you’re experiencing. Try not to let your mind wander to your to-do list, your stressors, your insecurities. There are also real health benefits to orgasms, including stress relief, sleep aid, and even indications that it can boost your immune system.