3 Ways Busy Women Can Benefit From Daily Meditation
I survived Fashion Month without breaking a sweat.
While everyone was enjoying the last days of summer, I was knee-deep in dread. The beginning of September marks the start of Fashion Month which means nonstop work. New York, London, Milan and Paris shows are scheduled back to back leaving little time to even process the new Spring/Summer 2019 fashion. Between this and the news of the Blood Moon bringing on additional stress for Libras, I had to get my mind into a place where I could thrive quickly. I challenged myself to meditate daily to see if giving my brain some time to be empty would help with managing a hectic schedule. To accomplish this goal, I used the INSCAPE app which offers guided meditations and other resources to bring about sustainable mindfulness.
Every day (mostly in the morning) I would begin with a session that spoke to how I was feeling at the time. Whether I needed to get a bit of motivation or simply get the fundamentals down there was always an appropriate option. The app provides users with the option to choose time duration and whether they’d like to be guided by a voice or calming sounds. After practicing at least 20 minutes of meditation throughout the month, I found myself being more productive and yet still at ease. INSCAPE has relaunched with a new interface making practicing daily even easier. Users will be able to use its path personalization and playlist function to create their own routine. Read on for my reflections on the benefits of daily meditation.
A Boost of Creativity
SWEAR London
Sometimes ideas escape us and the muses refuse to give a hand. No matter how many ways you approach something, sometimes a step back needs to be taken when searching for inspiration. I found that after meditating first thing in the morning, not only was I in a better mood but I’d randomly come up with solutions to problems I had been brewing over. Allowing my thoughts to flow instead of focusing deeply on an issue gave my brain the freedom to produce ideas that weren’t cluttered with presumptions and fear. I became more creative not only at work, but also in my relationships with friends and family. Conflict resolution and communication requires a level of wisdom that I am only now beginning to acquire through being still.
Clarity on Decisions That Need to Be Made
Paul Jeong/HYPEBAE
Libras are notorious for being indecisive and picky all at the same time. I usually never feel definitively strongly about anything and this can lead to some frustration. I enjoy seeing both sides of a situation but it can take a while for me to make a decision halting progress indefinitely. While meditating, I found that once I broke through my surface level thoughts answers became more apparent. Feelings I was ignoring and flags that required attention, were sorted out over time. At first, I fought the feeling of coming to certain conclusions but I later embraced these outcomes as the real truth.
Improved Mood Overall
Paul Jeong/HYPEBAE
This was one area I did not expect to see many results. Living in a high-paced city like New York, it’s rare to meet someone whose mood is not affected by the failing public transportation or constant noise. One of the most important lessons I learned is like thoughts, feelings are temporary. If I could let random whims come and go, I could do the same for feelings of irritation and impatience. I found myself smiling more and enjoying myself without the need for a direct cause or stimulus. Setting a small amount of time aside for myself, made me feel more in control and eventually led to me being more open-minded about how things are “supposed to be.” Without expectations, I found myself being more spontaneous and learning more about those close to me.
