When you hear the word “meditation” you probably think of sitting cross-legged in a quiet room, feeling peaceful and calm, gently washing away any stress and negativity. This can be a useful form of meditation, but not everyone has the time (or the patience) to meditate this way for long periods of time.

Thankfully, there are many other forms of meditation which can be just as beneficial and be much easier to incorporate into our busy lives.

What is Meditation?

Mindful Meditation can be defined as the practice of engaging with the present moment, not getting carried away by our thoughts, and being in a state of peace and relaxation.

Thoughts have the ability to take us away from the present moment, so mindful meditation is useful in gently bringing our mind back to a state of peace and calm.

Some people find it difficult to sit still and meditate. They may grow frustrated with the practice and give up on it altogether, but meditation doesn’t necessarily have to be done sitting in silence for long periods of time. Fortunately, there are many creative forms of meditation to help calm your mind, relax your body and gently ease you into the world of meditation.

Art

A popular form of mindful meditation is art meditation. Though this form of meditation is different than what you may expect; coloring, drawing and painting can help you to focus your attention on a single activity and become mindfully aware of the present moment.

This practice of meditation can also help to release pent up emotions and energy from a stressful day. By allowing yourself to express your frustration through art, you may find yourself feeling lighter and more relaxed. 

Art is a useful tool to help express yourself more freely. It can help you to connect deeper with yourself and bring you back into a space of alignment and peace.

Music

Music is another powerful tool to help reduce stress. Although it may not seem like meditation at first, music can help you become completely immersed in a song, and therefore, help you to be more connected to the present moment.

There are an infinite number of songs out there, so choose the ones that make you feel the best. Whether it is pop, classical or country music, create a playlist with songs that make you smile.

Because music has the ability to reach us at an emotional level, it can easily affect our mood. When we feel frustrated and stressed out, uplifting or soothing music can help us to relax, unwind, and release any stressful feelings from the mind and body.  

Journaling

Journaling is another creative form of meditation. It is useful in helping to release overwhelming and stressful thoughts and helping to clear the mind. Through journaling, you’ll find yourself alone with a paper, a pen and your own thoughts.

Sometimes journaling can seem overwhelming because of the large number of thoughts that may show up, but by allowing yourself to fully and freely express yourself through a pen and paper, you may find your stress slipping away with every word on the page.

Affirmations

Affirmations are another powerful way to meditate. Whatever affirmations you tell yourself, good or bad, have the ability to affect your reality. By writing down or telling yourself calming, peaceful affirmations, you may find yourself in a more relaxed and meditative state.

There are many different ways to incorporate affirmations into your life, from speaking them out loud or in your head, to writing them down, or listening to an affirmations recording or video.

This form of meditation is meant to help you feel what you are speaking to yourself. Whether you’re telling yourself that you are at peace, a more relaxed person, or dealing with difficulties in a calm way, it’s important to try your best to feel what it would be like if it were true.

Yoga

The practice of yoga is sometimes known as a moving meditation. Although it is a form of exercise, yoga consists of many different forms and positions which are meant to help you get more in touch with your breath and body, helping you to be more aware of the present.

This is a very useful meditation practice because not only does it help you to be in connection with the present moment, but many forms of yoga also help to release stress from the body and mind.

Tai Chi

If yoga is a bit too strenuous for you, maybe try your hand at some tai chi. It is another form of moving meditation that can aid you in your search for calm and peace. It’s a slow-moving practice which can occupy your body while your mind reaches a state of peaceful relaxation.

There are many books and videos on how to easily apply tai chi into your life, and although it can get complex, due to its many forms, there are also many practices which are simple and easy to follow, revolving around the reduction of stress.

Mindful Breathing

If you don’t have much time for meditation, mindful breathing is perfect for you! This practice can be done almost anywhere. All that is required is for you to focus on your breath which, in turn, connects you to the present. This can help you take your mind off of worry and stress and bring a sense of calm into your life. Once you are calm, it will be easier to redirect your mind to look for possible solutions to your problems.

This practice of meditation is a very useful tool when combating stressful situations. It is a good reminder to be calm and to react with awareness and mindfulness.

Choose the practice that’s best for you

These practices are only a few of the wide variety of choices for mindful meditation and don’t need to take up a lot of time. In fact, some can be done in only a couple of minutes, such as affirmations or mindful breathing, allowing you to go on normally throughout your day without any interruption.

These practices are very useful, but they may affect people differently. What works for one person may not work for everyone, so it’s important to take the time to explore and find the practice that works best for you.