Using Meditation to Help on National Relaxation Day

When you heard today was "National Relaxation Day," did you laugh or say something like, "I can NEVER relax!"? I used to be one of those people who was ALWAYS busy working and stressing that I felt it was impossible to relax. And then I discovered something that helps. You can do it anywhere. And you can do it even if you only have one minute to spare in your day. You can meditate.

It doesn't matter what religion you are or if you are athiest or agnostic. You don't have to know anything about yoga. You just have to be willing to sit still for at least a minute (ideally more than one), close your eyes, and breathe.

I always feel better after I meditate; calmer, clearer, more prepared for the day ahead. It helps me feel centered and ready to handle whatever comes my way. I use a free app called Insight Timer and it has been so helpful. It's rated the Top Free Meditation app for Android and iOS users. It asks how much time you have. I usually search meditations that are 6-10 minutes long. You can search for recordings based on what your need is; for example: Motivation, Energy, Calm, Focus, or Sleep.

There are hundreds of different voices on this thing so you can try a bunch and then favorite the ones you like best. And if you don't want to hear any talking, you can play some nice background music while you do your own kind of silent meditation.

This is not a paid endorsement from Insight Timer. I'm just sharing with you something that I found helpful in my own busy stressful life. I hope it helps you too.

Oh, one more thing I want to say before you try it: Meditation can be challenging for beginners. It may take a while before you can actually quiet your mind, but that's why they call it a meditation practice. You have to keep at it. You'll be glad you did. Trust me.

Here are some tips if you want to give meditation a try on this National Relaxation Day.

Do you ever meditate? Have you used Insight Timer? What advice would you have for a beginner?