Learn how to slow down before you tackle your to-do list
We all have a handful too many things to do on our daily to-do lists. Some mornings, you might wake up in a panic, downing coffee and jolting out the door in order to tackle your schedule. However, as the old saying goes, the busier you are, the more time for meditation you need.
You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes everyday. Unless you’re too busy – then sit for an hour.
– Dr. Sukhraj S. Dhillon
We live in a society that is extremely yang. This means we’re outward, we’re busy, we’re fiery and we’re practicing significantly more action than inaction. That’s why so many of us find even 10 minutes of meditation extremely difficult; our society simply doesn’t operate like this.
That’s also why carving out time for meditation is absolutely crucial.
What’s more, meditating teaches you to be more productive. Why? Meditation trains you to resist urges. If you’re sitting in silence for 10 minutes, you have to practice letting those thoughts float away, not getting up to answer the phone when it rings or not giving up on the practice because you don’t have the patience. It’s the ultimate lesson in slowing down and focusing on the task at hand.
Research indicates that by boosting your willpower to resist urges, you can improve your relationships, and increase your performance and dependability. That’s precisely the effect of meditation.
Plus, when you only focus on the task at hand, rather than checking your email, talking on the phone or perusing on social media, you’ll be able to focus more clearly on that task and be able to complete it much quicker.
If you can’t justify sitting in silence for 10 to 20 minutes, then look at it as a way to prepare your brain for the day. Not only will you be calmer throughout the day, you’ll be better able to concentrate on your tasks – plus you’ll look at your to-do list with a bit more ease – without completely freaking out!
Set your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier to get up, sit in silence and breathe – it’s worth it. When we slow down before we speed up for the day, we calm the nervous system, allowing for a smoother, clearer day ahead.
When we’re living in a constant state of fight or flight, we’re causing stress on our adrenals, causing brain fog and anxiety that leaves us in a state where we simply don’t have the ability to concentrate. With even 10 minutes of meditation a day, you can slow down, gain new perspective, and perhaps even complete your tasks in half the time. Give it a try. Sit a little longer each day, testing your ability to focus your mind.
Here are some meditation apps you can use:
