We all know physical health is important to upkeep but what about the brain? Exercise certainly helps with our mental health but it’s not the key to learning how to keep calm during these trying times. Even without group meditation classes, you can still practice one of the oldest and most successful means of maintaining a calm mind within the walls of your own home.

Find a Space

If you’re new to meditation, it’s imperative you find a space in your home that is calm and quiet. Whether that’s the bathroom or the bedroom, all that matters is that you can settle down for 10 to 15 minutes without interruption. If silence is a challenge, turn on white noise or meditation music to drown out distractions.

Find Your Breath

Sit. Stand. Lay down. Choose a position and begin to breathe. Focus on where you feel your breath today. Is it deep and in your diaphragm or is it high and in your shoulders? Where do you feel it rushing into your body? Take a few moments to find where you’re starting today. Just remember that meditation means only observation. There’s no right or wrong place for the breath to sit.

Focus your Mind

For the next two to ten minutes, work on taking that breath deeper and making it last longer by slowing everything down. As you breathe, simply focus on how your body responds. How do your ribs move? Can you feel your lungs expand and collapse? If external thoughts push in, gently quiet them and refocus on your breathing. Your goal during meditation is to learn how to quiet your mind so that you can live in the moment and avoid getting wrapped up in and wasting energy on things you can’t change.