Meditation can seem daunting when you first start. It’s hard to calm your mind, especially when the woes of life keep popping up. Doesn’t it feel impossible to turn off that endless stream of thoughts running through your mind? I have a few meditation techniques for beginners that I’ll share below, but first let’s learn a bit more about meditation.

Meditation is simply a state of deep peace that we sense once our mind is calm and silent.

When you’re just beginning to learn about meditation, sitting in a cross-legged position for half an hour can seem really daunting (let alone uncomfortable), especially when you feel like you have so many things to do.

But taking some time to create space for yourself is really important.

Check out this awesome infographic on the science behind why meditation makes you so much happier.

We have a GPS inside our soul called our intuition and meditation can really help you tap into this as a guide when we are at a crossroads in life.

A regular meditation or mindfulness practice can benefit any age and any brain – no matter what stage you’re at in your life. There are even studies about how meditation is beneficial for kids.

Here are a few techniques that I have found to be helpful in my meditation journey.

Meditation Techniques For Beginners

Try Guided meditations.

Download the free app ‘Insight Timer’ and pick a 5 minute meditation to follow. Try typing in a keyword related to how you’re feeling at that moment and you may just find the perfect one for you.

I recommend starting small because you want to build a habit. If you can do 5 minutes a day, you will get better at it.

My mom has just released 2 guided meditations on Healing Relationships and Relaxation. If this resonates with you, please check it out.

Try to be mindful throughout the day.

You don’t necessarily have to carve out half an hour to sit still. Just bringing awareness to your presence while you do normal things throughout the day can be extremely beneficial.

For instance, while you’re eating take your mind to the actual actions you are performing, noticing your chewing, swallowing and the taste of the food. In our hectic modern lifestyles, we tend to forget how beautiful it is that we are able to nourish our bodies.

You can also take this exercise outside while you are walking, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other or taking time to actually notice your surroundings.

Every time you are doing something and you remember, just take your mind to that moment and be present. It’s another way to help you slow down and be in tune with your body.

Count to 100 before you sleep.

If you’re having trouble sleeping or if the day has you feeling overwhelmed, try this as your head hits the pillow.

Count up a number every time you breathe in and out. You may catch your mind wandering but that’s ok. Just go back to the number and keep counting. This is a great way to work on focusing on one thing at a time.

Pick a mantra to focus on during a meditation.

There are some great mantras listed here from which you can choose.

My mantra is ‘Progress not perfection’ and I think meditation truly captures the essence of that saying.

I’ve put a few links below to items I use or read regularly to enhance my meditation practice that you may be interested in too.

I sincerely hope that these tips have given you some real and actionable ways that you can bring mindfulness and meditation into your life. If it has or if you have any other tips that you use to bring mindfulness and meditation into your life, then please leave a comment! It may be helpful for someone reading :)

Lindsey Victoria

Lindsey is the author of A Life Well-Balanced, a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping people live a more balanced life – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.