This is how to Actually Meditate
Meditation helps your mind and your body, but how do you actually do it? I find a lot of people often get stuck on the doing meditation part, when meditation isn't really about doing much of anything. It's simply taking a moment to be still and acknowledge your thoughts.
When to Meditate
You can meditate in the morning after waking up. Personally, I find it makes me sleepy and I'll end up just going back to bed. So I like to do it somewhere in my evening routine. Usually after I turn off all the lights in my home and rely on candle lighting, and light some sort of incense.
Where to MEDITATE
You can meditate on the floor, a chair, or your bed. Sometimes it helps to get a cushion to prop yourself up. That way your knees don't hurt as much when you're sitting cross legged.
How to Meditate
You can choose to meditate with an app on your phone. Headspace is a good one that I use often. However you choose to meditate, I usually start by taking three deep breaths. The breathing helps to still your body and calm your heartbeat, and you don't have to clear your mind or anything like that. Just acknowledge your thoughts and let them pass.
Your hands can rest on your knees or palm facing up, and you don't have to say “Om” if you don't want to. I often count my breaths. As I inhale- that's [1]; and exhale, that's [2], and continue all the way up to [10], then repeat from the beginning. I do this often when my thoughts run a little bit too wild and it helps bring back to focus to the present moment.
Meditation is often how I think through my problems, as well as come up with new ideas. So I often journal afterwards.
It doesn't have to be anything too elaborate. It's whatever works for you. And five minutes is really all you need.