This week has already been quite hectic, with responsibilities tugging me in different directions, but the biggest one looming over me is a paper due on Thursday. Typically, professors just specify the day, so I know I have up to 11:58 pm to submit it (lol), but this professor set a time – 4 pm! So, by Wednesday, I need to have the paper ready, leaving Thursday solely for last-minute editing. While I'm confident I can manage it, I don’t want to feel overwhelmed.
This morning, I recalled an old Zen saying: “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour.” Inspired by this, I decided to incorporate meditation three times today to help maintain my focus, boost my positivity, and infuse me with the energy needed to tackle my tasks.
My meditation sessions vary, ranging from silent introspection to guided practices on my Insight Timer app, followed by my own tailored techniques. Here’s a breakdown of each session I engaged in today. You can click them to access the links! I hope you try at least one of them.
Morning Medi Title: Morning Meditation For Energy, Focus & Clarity
Description: This practice leverages breathwork to cultivate energy, vitality, and mental clarity, setting a steady tone for the day ahead.
Notes: The yogic breathing technique, Breath of Fire (kapalabhati), always challenges me, but I always do it the best I can. I pause when I need to or breathe slower than the instructor. I really like it for the heightened alertness and vitality it brings. After completing the session, I felt centered, invigorated, and ready to dive into my work!
Afternoon Medi Title: Affirmations To Enter The Flow State
Description: Designed to align the self with the universal flow state, this Affirmation Meditation invites synchronicity, miracles, and a deeper connection to one's purpose.
Notes: I did this one when I got home this afternoon, and this meditation refocused my mind and eased me back into work mode. This one had me feeling totally Zen after. I definitely got into a flow state, so much so that if I did this one lying down, I would have flowed right off to sleep! (lol). After the session, I felt refreshed and energized, so I didn’t need one of my famous 15-minute naps!
Evening Medi Title: Yoga Nidra - Guided Meditation to Relax
Description: Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation, systematically induces profound physical, mental, and emotional relaxation.
Notes: Seeking a final burst of energy to wrap up my tasks, I turned to Yoga Nidra, a practice I adore for its remarkable ability to induce deep relaxation without actual sleep. Typically, it involves a body scan or guided meditation while lying down. I love Yoga Nidra and often recommend it to friends struggling with sleep issues. (Especially the routines by my favorite instructor, Jeniffer Piercy). Although it's usually described as a form of deep relaxation rather than a sleep aid, when I practice it in bed on nights when sleep eludes me, I allow myself to drift off and wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. However, when done on my yoga mat, it provides deep relaxation, leaving me feeling as if I've completed a whole sleep cycle. This routine helped give me the last bit of pep I needed, as I'm now back at my desk, ready to post this before tackling another two, hopefully productive, hours of work. Wish me luck!
The video above is of me during my morning and afternoon sessions today. Let me know if you tried any of the routines in the comments!