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Easy five-minute stress reliever
By Anne Davis
Stress is something all of us experience and, in small doses, it is good for us.
Chronic stress, however, wreaks havoc on our minds and bodies. If you are feeling overwhelmed or a lack of control, consider spending five minutes of your day in meditation. Wait – read on before you dismiss this concept! The benefits just might convince you to try this out.
When you meditate, you experience a more efficient use of oxygen and your heart rate and breathing slow down. Your blood pressure returns to normal rates and you actually sweat less! Your ability to fight off illness improves. You clear your mind and allow your creative process to emerge. With regular meditation practice, it becomes easier for you to find solutions and to relax. As your stress level lowers, your life becomes much easier to handle. You feel much better and more in control. Isn’t that worth five minutes of your time each day?
Find a quiet spot where you are not likely to be disturbed for five minutes. Wear comfortable clothing and choose a comfortable chair to sit in.
Set a timer so you don’t have to keep wondering what time it is and if your five minutes are up.
Close your eyes and relax your body. Take deep breaths in and let them out slowly (three counts in and five counts out).
Push away any thoughts that come to your mind, just keep directing your thoughts to the present moment. Try focusing on one word, like “relax.”
When your timer goes off, you’ll feel better than you did when you began.
With more practice, you will begin to enjoy this five minute period of your day. You may even want to meditate for longer periods of time, but try to keep your meditation time to 15 minutes or less. This practice is to help you to relax and enjoy your life – not to replace living your life!
Anne Davis is a writer, blogger, artist and photography buff. Born in Quebec, she now lives in Kimberley, BC where she is editor of and contributor to the City of Kimberley’s Active Community Guide and webmaster for the City’s websites.
