Use Your Lunch Break to Meditate

By now everyone knows that meditation can change your life. A meditation practice cultivates positive changes in all areas of your life; physically, mentally, emotionally and of course, spiritually. Meditation alleviates stress in the body and clears the clutter of the mind, giving you a whole new way of living your life. So... why are some of us still not meditating? Many people claim; "I don't have the time." True, life is filled with work, laundry, food shopping and so on but if you don't even have 10 minutes to give yourself...You're in serious trouble! Remember, if you don't take care of you, no one else is going to and there's no way you will be able to fulfill your tasks if you're running on empty.

Therefore, it's important to get creative with your schedule. Every free moment counts. For many of us, work consumes the better part of our day and usually by the time we get home there are all sorts of chores and errands to be done. There is also dinner to be made, dogs to be walked and after school activities. The scene can become quite chaotic. (This chaos can happen in the morning as well...depends how crazy it is in your house.) But by the time your day is done, you're exhausted and meditation goes right out the window. Sometimes the only free time you have is on your lunch break. The good news about meditation is that you don't need to sit for hours and hours to reap its benefits. Sitting in quiet contemplation for just 10 minutes a day will do wonders for you.

By lunchtime you probably have already had some pleasant- and some not so pleasant- interactions with customers and co-workers, you also have probably made a mistake (or two...) at work, maybe even spilled coffee on your new pants. So the real question is; Why would you NOT meditate on your lunch break? You totally need it! Here's a quick meditation that you can incorporate into your busy day, for a few moments of calm:

  • Try to meditate before you eat lunch but if this is not possible, try not to eat anything too heavy. Stay away from meat, especially, as it is not conducive to meditation.
  • Set an intention for the rest of your day. For example; " I intend to do complete that project before 5:00" or "I intend to be especially nice to that very nasty lady at the bank."
  • Find a quiet place. This may be challenging but remember to be creative. You can sit in your car or on a park bench, maybe even at your desk before you begin work.
  • Take a few deep breathes through your nose. Breathing deeply will allow you to relax and become present. Our breath is the vital link between our mind and our body. Use it to center yourself.
  • You mind may become enveloped in thoughts. This is okay, just let them go. Observe your thoughts with no judgment or indulgence. Become thoughtless and free.
  • At the end of your meditation, thank the Universe for all of the blessings in your life and all the blessings that are on their way.

Meditation is a great way to add peace and power to your life. It is the quintessential tool for overcoming all of life's obstacles. Lunchtime meditation is one way of incorporating the power of meditation into your busy day. Whether you have 5 minutes or 50 minutes, you owe it to yourself to take care of your mind, body and soul.

Happy Meditating! :)