Week-Long Experiments: 5 Meditations
By Chris Brown
I have experimented with meditation before, but never consistently. Consistent meditation has been shown to improve willpower in only eight weeks. I decided to attempt a burst of consistency by embarking on five 10-minute YouTube-guided meditations over the course of a week. I varied the times of day and styles of the meditations and kept notes to determine what worked best for me.
Meditation Notes
- Day 1 (morning): "Manifest Your Goal" - Listening while seated at my desk between blogs, this meditation was all about picturing your goals and I finished ready to take on the day with purpose.
- Day 2 (late afternoon): Relaxation guided meditation - I tried laying down for this meditation and ended up falling asleep. What should have been a 10-minute meditation turned into a two-hour nap. I woke up tired, which probably had more to do with my personal sleeping habits than the meditation itself. Suffice it to say, the relaxing meditation performed as advertised.
- Day 3 (night): "Daily Calm - 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation" - I have experienced mindfulness meditations before, and the inner focus on breath is effective for me. Following the session, I was ready to go to bed and fell into a sleep with vivid dreams, waking more rested than typical.
- BREAK DAY
- Day 4 (early afternoon): "Get Things Done - Guided Meditation" - Another meditation designed to motivate while you calm. This would be a great meditation before starting a large project or new diet. I listened while in a midday bath and felt energized, more creative, and ready to accomplish goals afterward.
- Day 5 (early afternoon): "Relaxing 15-Minute Guided Meditation for Balancing" - Completed just before this blog, I had just eaten a large lunch and the woman's soothing voice admittedly put me to sleep while seated in my desk chair a couple times. When it ended, I came out feeling like I'd taken a short nap (which, essentially, I did), but felt a bit more alert and rejuvenated.
Personal Findings
Overall, I found the meditations most helpful when used as breaks in the workday. Except for when I fell asleep, they always seemed to increase my productivity and reset my mind regardless of style. Like most things, guided meditations are personal preferences, so you need to try out different times, positions, and styles yourself to determine your ultimate experience. Below are a few preferences that I found work best for myself:
- Mindfulness style
- In early afternoon, but not immediately after I eat
- Can't be too tired
- Sitting is better than laying down
I intend to continue regular meditations and swap between guided and non-guided practices. It's too soon to feel any major benefits, but the short-term calmness and clarity makes it worth setting the daily time aside.
The Joint Chiropractic can improve your posture, so you are able to meditate more comfortably, without nagging back pain. Sessions are affordably priced, and walk-ins are welcomed, so stop in to see one of their chiropractors today.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in River Edge, N.J.