Ohm Debrief

A few weeks ago I decided to give meditation a shot.  The app I used is called Headspace which was created in theUK.  I chose it, not because of any legitimate research, but because it was in a top 3 list in a newspaper article I was reading about stress relief apps...very technical, I know.  Anyway, the article said it was the easiest app they had come in contact with.  It had cutesy cartoons to help you on the journey (never underestimate the power of cute) and best of all, it was free (I really hate paying for apps unless I know I'm going to love them, and I was convinced I was going to hate this one). 

Anyway, the app is put together in 10, roughly 10 minute meditiation segments.  You're supposed to complete 1 a day for 10 days.  I, however, am not that disciplined.  I chose to focus on every other day or days that I was really stressed.  Now, I'd tried meditation before in high school and found it did nothing for me so I wasn't expecting much.  But, as it turns out, it's actually pretty helpful.  The man who guides the meditations, has a great British accent which is low and  soothing.  So it definitely wasn't hard to relax.  The hardest part was forgetting about everything else.  I don't know about you, but when I lay down and try to think of nothing , I usually think about everything else in the entire world but nothing.  However, after a few days, it got easier. 

On one particularly stressful day, I decided to really see what it could do.  I was really annoyed about something forgettable and I could feel my BP going through the roof.  So I took the ten minutes and meditiated.  I wouldn't say that I was walking on sunshine afterwards but I was able take a deep breath without my head exploding.  And I ultimately went on to enjoy my day. 

In the end, I would say that meditation is an effective way to drop a little stress and figure out what's most important at that very moment.  It's probably not for everyone, but I actually enjoyed it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not signing up for any trippy meditation pilgrimages to holy sites any time soon, but I will turn to it the next time I get frazzled.  At the very least, it's a great way to take 10 minutes completely to yourself.  Who couldn't use that every day?