The times we live in are a bit ‘distracting’ to say the least.

At all hours of the day, we are exposed to the external stimuli that make the 21st century what it is: cell phones, Facebook, Snapchat, a Google Calendar invite here, a new app to make us look 5 years younger there – the list goes on and on. What’s not lost on most people, however, is an innate desire to try and find peace and quiet in the world’s chaos.

 

Not only are taking moments for pause and reflection good for your own well being, but the moments of self care that you allow yourself can lead you to become a more patient, understanding, and kinder individual. Exercises in meditation can also provide health benefits like reducing stress, anxiety, and even blood pressure levels (we know we could all use a little help with that!).

 

Unfortunately, this all seems easier said than done – especially if your own schedules don’t seem to allow any moments for pause. But we encourage you to find even just five minutes to be quiet with yourself (even if it is when you’re standing in the shower or in other, certain ‘porcelain throne’ areas of the bathroom [we won’t judge]).

 

You definitely don’t have to embark on this journey to inner peace on your own. We’ve been there, done that, and are ready to share our best tips and resources to help you find the focus in this distracting world!

 

#1: Remember that big changes will not necessarily happen overnight.

 

We wish that sitting down and thinking about life only one time would be enough to make us feel the hallowed nirvana, but, like any other skill, practice makes perfect.

 

We’d like to say that anticipation is the enemy of meditation (unless, of course, you are anticipating your next meditation session). Remember to reward yourself for clearing your mind for just three minutes – even if your goal was five. Everyone has to start somewhere and trying to ‘get it all done’ in one go will more than likely hinder your process towards your ultimate goal.

 

Try not to expect big changes to your health or your mentality on life by way of a single session of deep breathing. After all, you won’t get a six-pack by doing just a solitary crunch (unfortunately).

 

#2: It’s okay to seek guidance. (Because not everyone was born saying ‘om!’)

 

For those individuals that are blessed with a naturally cool-under-pressure demeanor, it might be hard to understand how others can’t just ‘calm down’ at will. And even those that have developed that skill still have their slip-up moments – as do we all. It’s just a normal part of life!

 

We suggest trying guided meditation sessions like those on Headspace to help you keep focused when your mind starts to wander away. In fact, the methods on Headspace talk directly about what to do if your mind starts to wander while you are falling into meditation. The main point the courses teach is to just be present in the moment.

 

There are certain courses you must pay a small fee to download through the Headspace platform but even the free selection courses offered will get you on the right path to mindfulness. Not to mention, you can just head over and take a look at the thousands of positive reviews on Headspace to inform your decision on whether or not it might be a good investment for you in the long run!

 

For school and work, you can also try out the Forest app to stay on track. For every certain interval of time you work, you plant a virtual tree for your own foreset! If you pick your phone up, your virtual tree ‘dies.’ It might sound silly in concept, but we’ve found that we really would rather not kill our virtual trees!

 

#3: Increase your self-awareness in different situations.

 

Sitting on your couch, your bed, or in your bathroom while practicing meditation and focus is always the ideal situation (especially if you’re in a situation you’d rather not be in), but practicing mindfulness and self-awareness in every other situation will help you practice staying cool under pressure too.

 

If your goal is to be living a happier, more stress-free life, you will want to put the techniques and exercises you have practiced into practice in your real life. You won’t always have a moment to sit down and think before making a decision or before you are thrown into a stressful situation, so learning how to get yourself into a calm and contemplative state at any level of duress will be a good goal to work towards.

 

This article from the Harvard Business Review suggests writing down all of your plans and priorities in order to increase your self-awareness. Remember the moments that your judgement led you down the right path and then how to learn from the moments that it didn’t. When a similar or applicable situation comes up afterwards, you can think back to your progress list and apply your previous experience to it – no heavy thinking required!

 

#4: It’s not bad to love who you are. It’s not bad to want to change either.

 

Being human comes with the big asterisk labeled ‘subject to change.’ We are always changing and transforming and that is just one of the great perks of being human. It’s okay to be confident in yourself and the choices you have made, and it’s also okay to be confident in the nagging feeling that something might have to change.

 

Seeking a little extra help in the areas of mindfulness or patience definitely isn’t a weakness. Wanting to practice it puts you laps ahead of many others who feel like they have nothing more to work on. As long as you continue to remember that the road to inner peace is one that requires paths of practice, you’ll be on your way to cool-as-a-cucumber status in no time at all.