Chris O.Morning people love the earliest hours of the day. They relish the cracks of sunlight streaming through the window, and the quiet before the hustle and bustle of midday and evening. However, whether you are a morning person or a night owl, you should really take advantage of morning mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness meditation first thing in the morning can help us focus on the present moment, be more aware and in-sync with our environment, and reap the rewards — both mental and physical — of mindfulness. Best of all, it is easiest, and perhaps best, to truly focus in the early hours before the distractions of the day begin to creep in and cloud our minds. In that light, here is my 5-minute morning mindfulness practice, and the benefits thereof.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is when you focus on the present moment, while being aware of, and in-sync with, your thoughts, feelings, and surrounding environment. It is a spiritual, mental, and physical boon that is unlike anything else. Best of all, there is strong scientific evidence that suggests mindfulness meditation can help with your overall health and wellbeing. According to the Mayo Clinic, it has been shown to help reduce hypertension and blood pressure, which are both significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death for adults worldwide. Apart from your bodily health, mindfulness meditation can also help you fight stress, improve your attention span, and even improve your ability to fall and stay asleep at night. This is part of the reason why millions of people around the world swear by it.
Why the Morning is Great for Mindfulness
The early hours of the day are ideal for mindfulness practices. Our minds are fresh, and we are able to focus and experience calm, understanding, and relaxation in a quieter, less active environment. My personal rhythm draws me to mindfulness in the early hours of the morning. My work day has not yet begun. I have plenty of time to prepare myself — physically and mentally — for the trials ahead, and that includes by completing my morning mindfulness practice. It helps sharpen my attention for any obstacles and challenges I might face, and to connect with myself and attain full attention over my actions and environment. Best of all, it helps me relieve stress, improve my focus, and quiet outside noise. It is my favorite time to practice mindfulness, and is the perfect opportunity for anyone to perform a quick mindfulness routine.
Morning Mindfulness Practice
It’s time to start your morning off right. It’s time for an easy-to-do, great feeling mindfulness practice. In my opinion, nothing beats a solid, dedicated session of mindfulness meditation. The technique is simple but effective. First, you will want to get in the right position. To do so, follow these steps:
- Find a comfortable place to meditate. This can be a chair, couch, or some place on the floor. If you prefer, you can meditate while standing, but you will need to adjust the remaining steps to accommodate for this.
- Either sit or stand with your back straight (think proper posture) and your feet planted on the floor about shoulder-width apart.
- Now, you will need to rest your hands in your lap in front of you. This removes them as an obstacle of your focus, and allows you to practice mindfulness more easily.
Now that you are in the correct spot and position for meditation, it’s time to begin the session properly. The following steps will help you do just that:
- Focus on your breath. Pay attention as you breath in through your nostrils, and out through your mouth.
- Make sure to tune out any distractions or outside noise; it’s important to stay focused and concentrate as best you can.
- If your concentration falters, try and focus on your breath once again.
Do this for five minutes and you will be able to approach the rest of the day with a calm, clear, and reflective mind. You will find that you are more in-tune with your spiritual needs, and better prepared for anything life throws at you.
Conclusion
For me, nothing beats a quick session of mindfulness meditation first thing in the morning. It helps me to conquer anything I might face for the rest of my day, and to help me stay more in-sync with my spiritual, mental, and physical needs. If you are interested in other lifestyle, wellness, and mindfulness topics, please check out our other blogs for more!
