topic Re: Meditation, a call for your tips! in AARP Rewards Connect

Meditation, a call for your tips!

AARPTeri — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 19:56:57 GMT

It may be that 40% of the US meditates regularly, but Pew Research also indicates that 45% meditate seldom or never. Where do you fall?

Share your tips on meditation and how to cope during the holidays!

Who knows, your post could receive a free giveaway of the Meditation for Caregivers book, by Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D. and Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D. or other goodies during November!

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

TheSuzyQ — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 23:37:13 GMT

The Holidays can be so very stressful. I have found mindfulness meditation to be very helpful. Years ago, I came upon a free website https://www.helpguide.org I believe it is a Harvard collaborated self-guided program to help you relieve stress and take control of your life. It contains The Emotional Intelligence Toolkit https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/emotional-intelligence-toolkit.htm based on the life work of HelpGuide’s co-founder, Dr. Jeanne Segal. Her free Ride the Wild Horse Mindful Meditation clips have been wonderful for quick stress relief and stress management. They also have sections devoted to Mental Health, Healthy Living, Children & Family, Relationships and Aging.

I wish for everyone in the AARP Community a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season!

SuzyQ

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

ToddP873348 — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 02:50:32 GMT

I like UCLA mindful app on my phone, from the Mindful Awareness Research Center. It has guided meditations as short as 5-6 minutes. Breathing techniques can be very helpful for relaxation.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

YvetteS172748 — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 21:17:20 GMT

A quick and easy way I integrate some mindful meditation into my busy day - especially during the holidays, is to use my Fitbit's two minute breathing exercise in which I synchronize my breathing with the circle around the heart on the app. I sit still and inhale and exhale on cue deeply while focusing on the growing circle and the collapsing circle. Afterward, I feel relaxed and refreshed.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

shamac53 — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 20:50:12 GMT

Thanks for the website information. I was a caregiver for my parents for 10 years and now have to learn how to be alive again. I totally concentrated on their needs and forgot about mine.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

ToddP873348 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:59:37 GMT

Be sure to take care of yourself, I was a caregiver for years and it is very difficult to keep up. Be sure to reward yourself for all the things you do. If the caregiver goes down, then what? God Bless.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

linmock — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 22:13:07 GMT

It really helps to take at least 10 minutes to just be your breath, letting everything else to fall away. It promotes gentleness with yourself, the best self care potion. Use an app, like insight timer (free) to manage your time and keep you honest.

Enjoy yourself.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

marieteresa01 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 01:35:02 GMT

I use meditation to cope with every day and holidays are no different. While meditation is known to lower stress and levels of depression, it can also positively impact physical changes in your brain that can protect you from mental health issues in the future.

For meditation to be really effective, I found that I need to do it regularly and the best time for me is mornings because I like how it sets the tone for the day, although, I also make a point to meditate just before bed. Never a good sleeper, meditation seems to calm me down and at least gives me a quality rest.

Having a regular schedule is ideal, but let’s face it, life happens, so be prepared to be flexible.

There also are many meditation tools and equipment you can use to enhance the experience, but I tend to keep it simple. I will take advantage of a quiet garden, a stop by the seaside, dim the lights in a comfy spot in my home, or meditate any place that gives me complete focus. To avoid external distractions, I will sometimes close my eyes when listening to soothing music and embrace the darkness (or silence in some cases).

Meditation can be very powerful, so, I ask you…. Why wouldn’t you give meditation a try when it can change the course of your life for good? I have friends who have no time or interest in meditating. I just smile because I know what they are missing.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

marieteresa01 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 01:44:57 GMT

I use meditation to cope with every day and holidays are no different. While meditation is known to lower stress and levels of depression, it can also positively create physical changes in the brain that can protect a person from mental health issues in the future.

For meditation to be really effective, I found that you need to do it regularly. It’s good to have a ritual to ensure that you do it every day and the best time is what works for you. Morning works best for me because I like how it can set the tone for the day, although, I also make a point to meditate just before bed. Never a good sleeper, meditation seems to calm me down and at least gives me a quality rest.

Having a regular schedule is ideal, but let’s face it, life happens, so be prepared to be flexible.

There are many meditation tools and equipment one can use to enhance the experience, but I tend to keep it simple and will take advantage of a quiet garden, a stop by the seaside, dim the lights in a comfy spot in my home, or meditate any place that gives me complete focus. To avoid external distractions, I will sometimes close my eyes when listening to soothing music and embrace the darkness (or silence).

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

2Papa — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 05:49:23 GMT

Personally, I use alcohol to cope during the holidays! 🥃🍹🍸 Cheers!

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

LancelB704046 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:08:13 GMT

I have tried meditation and it has been very helpful. My moms birthday is in December and her and my father and sister are not here any more. I say try it.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

8strts — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 23:34:09 GMT

Mediation is a way to slow down your brain of high stress, anxiety attack and panic attacks. Imagine if all of a sudden you can't cope with whatever- Stop, start breathing slower, and slower, close your eyes, and think- I'm in a garden full of sweet smells, feeling light breezes flow around you, keep breathing slower, if you want you can put a fountain there, water heals your mind and body, let it flow on you, put your feet in it. This whole scenario can last 5 minutes. You can do it anywhere.

Also, Qigong is a beautiful movement of mind and body. When, you stand, your feet are roots. Your body stands perfectly still and can feel energy flowing thru it. Your arms are branches and are also flowing. Your head is closest to the heavens. So, as you rise up with your arms, taking in the Qi, you bring it down past your shoulders, down your body, healing everything and down to your roots and beyond.

Everyday, we are bombarded by anger, frustration, anxiety, exasperation on how to deal with it. Doctors love to give pills, it's a band-aid fix. It causes more problems in the body. So, why not meditation? It's like rewireing you brain. It literally makes you see something and feel something so wonderful, just for a moment or if you do it longer, then it will be longer. If you do it outside, then you will get ALL the Energy of all living things, and yes, ALL their energy. It flows from them to you, and you will feel so different., more open and receptive. How is this possible? Because the your 3 Brains are receptive and wants more! Give it a try, you will be surprised, even if for a moment.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

BrianK124505 — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 20:40:35 GMT

Meditation first thing in the morning, before the monkey-mind becomes active and even if for only 10-15 mins can feel like a short power-nap. Place your feeling-sense awareness on a part of your body that holds tension and as your exhale, relax. It's pure magic. Think of meditation as making friends with yourself. Become the observer of your thoughts. No judgement. No resistance. With practice, the stillness of space between thoughts will grow. Your mind will then become your servant instead of your master and you will experience more peace in your life.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

JeanneC440628 — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 21:58:59 GMT

Insight Timer is a nice phone app for simple meditations. You can set the timer with various ambient sounds as well as beginning and ending bells.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

sullicox — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 03:07:49 GMT

I am in the latter, but desperately want to be in the former. I am not good at doing it - I am great with guided meditation, but so very seldom, do I even take the time to set that up. I have PTSD, and I know it helps even actually keep episodes to a lesser degree, and can help when I.m having a panic attack, but it's the Last thing I think of! I need to learn to be disciplined about this discipline!

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

ToddP873348 — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 18:33:41 GMT

Hi Sullicox, I am just an amatuer but here are some things that have helped me. Try focusing on your breath when you are not doing anything, just those in between moments. Try to focus on one part of your breath, the nostrils, the chest or the diaphragm. Just note how it feels, breathe in and out, count to one at the end of each inhale and two at the end of each exhale. I tried to take too deep a breath at first, and this was making it harder to hold it for a short time and just be in the breath, I was thinking about holding it in vs the act of breathing. Take a normal breath. When you do this dont try to meditate, just get used to noting your breathing. Hopefully this will help you "get in the groove" later when you try to meditate. It's ok to do very short meditations (5-6 min), easier really than starting out trying to meditate for 15-30 min. Remember, you cant do "it" wrong, and the best way to get better is to relax, go easy on yourself, and practice, even if it is just a few minutes. Good luck and God Bless.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

KimT539583 — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 22:06:45 GMT

Well God bless you that just show how much you love your parents and now u will be alright as you are living and too many children are very disrespectful to their parents and that why there life is so miserable for what they do as to there parents

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

CherylR914199 — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 03:46:55 GMT

Every morning and evening I do 10 or 15 minutes of stillness meditation. But what helps me the most is through out the day I do very short active mediation, by this I mean I take time out when I am cooking to thinking about how I am breathing and am I thinking about the food I am preparing and sending blessings for all those that worked to get it to my kitchen. When I get in my car I am mindful of how relaxed or stressed I am and adjust my breath if needed. Believe me, the way some people drives can take one breath away! I live a few miles from one of the most dangerous highways in this country. So I think everyone should be aware of their attitude, and adjust it to calming vibes if needed, before driving.

I am a caregiver and a lot of people ask me how I remain so calm and keep a smile, well most of the time, it is do to bring aware of when I need to adjust my breathing and thinking. Sometimes this is hard to do, but being stressed out is not how I want to live.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

PattV603465 — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 14:13:38 GMT

I meditate every night in bed for a peaceful night sleep. And again in the morning before getting out of bed for a positive and productive day. Using breathe control as needed throughout the day. On days when I get off track I really notice the difference emotionally and physically.

Peace, Nameste.

Re: Meditation, a call for your tips!

mcmanigal — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:52:23 GMT

I meditate every morning and set an intention for my day. I find it very helpful to aid me in staying centered for the day.