The holiday season can be considerably a stressful and overwhelming time. Holiday stress can take many forms. At this time of year, we might overspend, have some tense family interactions, overeat, drink to excess, or experience loneliness or disappointment as we reflect on the past year. It’s rough! Following are some considerations on dealing well with holiday stress:
[Read more…]How long should you meditate?
How long should you meditate? Legend tells us the Buddha sat down to meditate for seven weeks before attaining enlightenment. What if we don’t have seven weeks, and have more modest goals?
The increased popularity and research evidence for mindfulness and meditation has led many people to integrate meditation into their lives. For some people meditation is a way to stay centered and feel sane; for others it’s a way to manage anxiety. Still others find it’s a way to deal with stress, attention deficits, or other difficulties. Whatever the reason people practice meditation, many wonder, “How long should I meditate?”
There is not one simple answer, unfortunately, but there are several helpful clues around.
[Read more…]Meditation for Focus: How It Helps You To Be Less Distracted
More and more scientific research tells us that we need to try to more present. This means keeping your focus off the past and the future. How does meditation help improve that focus?
Many people with a form of anxiety characterized by over-worrying find that they spend an excessive amount of time pondering either the future or the past. Research published in the journal Science suggests that doing so worsens our mood. Does this very human tendency to get caught up in thoughts about the past and future affect you?
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