Hi, I’m new! I love this piece, and thank you for sharing the research links up top. I’m working on a book proposal about unplugging and self-care (including meditation). Some of my sister’s feedback upon reading it included a suggestion to find some good research on the topic - so, I really appreciate you sharing!
I’m a big fan of Insight Timer and have been using it regularly since 2017. My current meditation “goal,” is to sit in silence for five minutes everyday. So far it’s not getting easier, but I’m committed. 😆
I love your practice of sitting at an open window and listening to the birds - I’ll be giving that a try this week.
Welcome Nikki! Since I wrote this and with the change in weather, I have been revisiting meditating with the birds, it's been really nice! Let me know what you think if you try it.
I was a very regular user of a meditation app when my kids were in online school, but I don't generally think I have a meditation practice on a day to day basis. When I think about the things I know give me that mental space, they do show up as part of my life on a regular basis! Something for me to think about.
One thing that ends up being a huge meditative practice for me is a health challenge that our county parks does each year--100 miles in 100 days within the parks or the county trail system. You can walk/hike/run the 100 miles or if you are biking or horseback riding it is 200 miles during that time. It has been the practice where I can understand a lot of what I learn in sitting guided meditation from the app, and from there it makes more sense in my everyday life. I don't know why this extra step seems to be the most useful for me, but sometimes you don't have to know everything.
Great article Kathryn. As you rightly pointed out, mindfulness is about discovering what resonates with us—whether it's mindful walking, eating, yoga, or even listening to music mindfully—and incorporating these practices flexibly into our lives to provide essential moments of pause.
This was lovely to read and I found it so interesting how everyone has different practices for meditation. My whole life, I've been told I need to meditate--which resulted in me NEVER wanting to meditate. 😅
As I was reading this, I started to wonder if I had ever meditated and I realized that maybe I have. When I do my workouts, I really focus on my breath and for those 20-30 minutes everything is muted. When I play tennis, I'm grounded physically and mentally in the game. So I guess, if we look at meditation as pauses, maybe I do do it once in a while!
I am the same, people telling me to was a direct path to me not doing it. I do think you can find a meditative state in many different ways. I know certain meditation die-hards would disagree but I think people need to be able to find what works for them.
I appreciate these reminders so much! I have meditated on and off. Unfortunately, it’s been the first thing to get dropped when life gets busy. I share with all of my therapy clients why it’s helpful and encourage them to do it daily but struggle to practice what I preach. Right now I can close this app and do 5 minutes before I begin my day! Thanks for the reminder! 🩵
I am so glad that it is helpful. I totally agree, it is one of the first things to go. Once I started to accept it would come and go, it's so much easier to get back to it.
Love that you put this article together Kathryn!! all the ways to find pockets of mindfulness when there seems to be no time for it (especially as toddler parents….)
I, like you, resisted the meditation side of things until my last pregnancy when I realized i needed to just to paus (a million difficult things were happening around me at the time).
It’s when I also fully leaned into my creative practice as a way of meditation, where previously I hadn’t felt that it “counted” because I wasn’t closing my eyes or sitting cross legged on a yoga mat.
I’ve also implemented small one-sentence prayers scattered through the week whenever I feel my emotional state to get I controllable and it helps to refine my centre and purpose 🙏🏼
I love when we put down our rigid expectations and get creative, how many beautiful avenues there are to finding those pockets of mindfulness. I loved sharing your example because it helps show people there are options that are available to them.
I love hearing about your experience. Someday, I hope to do longer meditations. I love how you approach your "greatest hits". It is so helpful to see how meditation practice can look for different people.
I'm not good at sitting still, but I am steadfast in my commitment to walking in nature.
Intentional movement can be a wonderful pause.
Hi, I’m new! I love this piece, and thank you for sharing the research links up top. I’m working on a book proposal about unplugging and self-care (including meditation). Some of my sister’s feedback upon reading it included a suggestion to find some good research on the topic - so, I really appreciate you sharing!
I’m a big fan of Insight Timer and have been using it regularly since 2017. My current meditation “goal,” is to sit in silence for five minutes everyday. So far it’s not getting easier, but I’m committed. 😆
I love your practice of sitting at an open window and listening to the birds - I’ll be giving that a try this week.
Thank you!
Welcome Nikki! Since I wrote this and with the change in weather, I have been revisiting meditating with the birds, it's been really nice! Let me know what you think if you try it.
I was a very regular user of a meditation app when my kids were in online school, but I don't generally think I have a meditation practice on a day to day basis. When I think about the things I know give me that mental space, they do show up as part of my life on a regular basis! Something for me to think about.
One thing that ends up being a huge meditative practice for me is a health challenge that our county parks does each year--100 miles in 100 days within the parks or the county trail system. You can walk/hike/run the 100 miles or if you are biking or horseback riding it is 200 miles during that time. It has been the practice where I can understand a lot of what I learn in sitting guided meditation from the app, and from there it makes more sense in my everyday life. I don't know why this extra step seems to be the most useful for me, but sometimes you don't have to know everything.
It is so helpful to be able to translate the benefits of meditation into other places in your life.
Great article Kathryn. As you rightly pointed out, mindfulness is about discovering what resonates with us—whether it's mindful walking, eating, yoga, or even listening to music mindfully—and incorporating these practices flexibly into our lives to provide essential moments of pause.
Thank you Aleks! Yes, there are so many ways!
This was lovely to read and I found it so interesting how everyone has different practices for meditation. My whole life, I've been told I need to meditate--which resulted in me NEVER wanting to meditate. 😅
As I was reading this, I started to wonder if I had ever meditated and I realized that maybe I have. When I do my workouts, I really focus on my breath and for those 20-30 minutes everything is muted. When I play tennis, I'm grounded physically and mentally in the game. So I guess, if we look at meditation as pauses, maybe I do do it once in a while!
I am the same, people telling me to was a direct path to me not doing it. I do think you can find a meditative state in many different ways. I know certain meditation die-hards would disagree but I think people need to be able to find what works for them.
I appreciate these reminders so much! I have meditated on and off. Unfortunately, it’s been the first thing to get dropped when life gets busy. I share with all of my therapy clients why it’s helpful and encourage them to do it daily but struggle to practice what I preach. Right now I can close this app and do 5 minutes before I begin my day! Thanks for the reminder! 🩵
I am so glad that it is helpful. I totally agree, it is one of the first things to go. Once I started to accept it would come and go, it's so much easier to get back to it.
Love that you put this article together Kathryn!! all the ways to find pockets of mindfulness when there seems to be no time for it (especially as toddler parents….)
I, like you, resisted the meditation side of things until my last pregnancy when I realized i needed to just to paus (a million difficult things were happening around me at the time).
It’s when I also fully leaned into my creative practice as a way of meditation, where previously I hadn’t felt that it “counted” because I wasn’t closing my eyes or sitting cross legged on a yoga mat.
I’ve also implemented small one-sentence prayers scattered through the week whenever I feel my emotional state to get I controllable and it helps to refine my centre and purpose 🙏🏼
I love when we put down our rigid expectations and get creative, how many beautiful avenues there are to finding those pockets of mindfulness. I loved sharing your example because it helps show people there are options that are available to them.
I love hearing about your experience. Someday, I hope to do longer meditations. I love how you approach your "greatest hits". It is so helpful to see how meditation practice can look for different people.