Incorporate Meditation Into your Routine

The daily grind of getting your steps in and working out can become overwhelming sometimes. Set aside some time each day to meditate to help you retain balance in your life. Kim Colegrove, a meditation expert at Make Time for Nothing, talked through the various ways to meditate throughout the day that you might find useful. 

“Lowering resting heart rate leads to better heart health. There are two main ways to achieve this: exercising and reducing stress," Colegrove said. "Meditation is a scientifically proven way to reduce stress. When you meditate, you calm the body and regulate breathing, which naturally lowers the heart rate.” 

You can see exactly how low your heart rate gets by pairing a heart rate monitor with your compatible Garmin device. If you have a vívofit 2, try using the timed activities feature to see how long you can block out the noise and meditate using this techniques:

Desk Meditation. This meditation technique can be useful when you need a break from a stressful day on the job. 

“Mini meditations throughout the day can help reduce stress and rejuvenate you mentally, emotionally and physically. At your desk, simply turn away from your computer, close your eyes, and breathe deeply for 1-3 minutes," Colegrove said. "Try to stay focused in the present moment by listening to your breath or directing your attention to sensations within your body." 

Mindfulness. Being mindful is a great way to get in touch with your surroundings. It’s a concept placing you in the present. This strategy forces you to not worry about the past or the future. This is the perfect time for you to tune in with your body. Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere. If you are sitting in a meditation pose or just standing, it all counts as mindfulness. All that matters is that you are in the right frame of mind. 

"It pulls your attention out of the past, keeps you from projecting into the future, and holds your focus in the now," Colegrove said. "This is an empowering practice. It reduces the stress of being mentally splintered by increasing focus, creativity, adaptability and critical thinking.”

Let us know if you’ve tried adding meditating into your schedule!