One of the most recommended remedies that is said to improve sleep is meditation. Sometimes it can seem intimidating and difficult… how do you get your mind to go blank? Isn't that something only the monks in the Tibet can do? The truth is that meditation, in a trend as current as Mindfulness, is easily achieved and with very few requirements.
What is Mindfulness and how is it practiced?
Mindfulness consists of paying conscious attention to the present with interest, curiosity and acceptance. It does not mean leaving your mind blank, as many may believe (since this is something difficult that requires a lot of practice), but it is about redirecting all thoughts about things from the past and the future to the present, taking into account the situation in which you are in the moment.
Attention is paid to the present because it is the only one capable of changing our moment: the past cannot do so because it has already happened and the future has not happened yet. With Mindfulness, you let the experience flow as it is happening, observing it as if you were a spectator or observer of your own life.
Mindfulness can be practiced in many ways. Some of them are:
🧘🏻 Training the ability to accept your present situation without judging it, just observing it.
🕯 Having intent and determination: You can only meditate if you want to meditate, so you have to find times of the day to do it, if possible, away from any noise.
☁️ It can be done both sitting straight or lying down. The important thing is to have your back well aligned to facilitate breathing.
The benefits of Mindfulness in everyday life
The health benefits of meditating daily (or often) are incalculable. Muscle relaxation allows a significant reduction of stress and its symptoms, in addition to improving muscle pain and contractures.
Mindfulness helps to come into greater contact with oneself and to be less reactive to unpleasant experiences, as we learn to manage much better both emotions and acceptance of things that we do not want to happen. This balances the emotions and generates more calm and peace. Meditation helps to make us recognize that sensations are fluid, like time, that everything comes and goes, and finally ends up passing.
Mindfulness at rest
Most of the people who carry out these practices in their routine, assure that it helps a lot when going to sleep. It can be practiced throughout the day, but if it is done before going to bed, you ensure that you slip between the sheets with a much greater degree of relaxation.
Meditation helps to have a deeper, more restful sleep, avoiding waking up several times during the night and breaking sleep cycles. It also helps to wake up with more energy and improves concentration throughout the day thanks to the fact that the mind is much clearer.
Relaxing the muscles lowers the pulse and regulates breathing, which is key to resting both the body and the mind.
In addition, a greater state of relaxation, both physical and emotional, helps to improve all of the above aspects and the quality of sleep.