Meditation is not a cure all (but it can help)
Over the past few years, meditation and mindfulness have become pretty big buzzwords in the conversation around mental health. They’ve also both become multi-million dollar industries, with app after app seemingly appearing from nowhere, touting the life-changing benefits of incorporating both concepts into your daily routine. But the common image of sitting still and silently for what feels like hours can be less than appealing to some. However, there are some ways to meditate without being bored out of your mind.
To start, we should define these ideas. Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique that focuses on embracing the present moment. Meditation is one of the most popular ways to increase mindfulness and quiet your thoughts - it’s the practice of focusing on one thought, activity, or object at a time to train attention and awareness.
Anxiety is commonly characterized as your brain worrying about the future, and depression as your brain living in the past. When used together, many therapists say that mindfulness and meditation can help ease anxiety and depression by helping you focus on the present moment. The most common way of meditating is to sit or lie still for a certain amount of time, while focusing on your breathing and maybe listening to a meditation recording. I’ve tried this on and off, and while it helps me sometimes, it can be extremely hard to do at other times, especially if I have a lot on my mind.
Luckily, there are other ways to accomplish the same goals of meditation that are less common, including: journaling, doodling, dancing, and even walking your dog. This practice is called daily life practice meditation, and it’s a method of taking any repetitive or low-involvement activity and slowing it down to half speed, so that you’re still performing that activity but with extra awareness and focus on that experience. This allows you to be in the moment, while calming the urge to fidget or find a distraction.
I find this type of meditation to be helpful, especially when I’m extra busy at work or school and I need a moment to myself. However, it’s not the magic, simple solution that it’s commonly marketed as. Research shows that while it can help, it can also just simply not work. The bottom line? It’s one strategy out of many that can possibly help you feel more centered, and it’s not for everyone - but it’s worth a try!
If you’re wondering where to try out guided meditations, here are my recommendations:
This is not advice from a licensed therapist - if you’re struggling with depression and/or anxiety, find professional help.