Written with love, by Jennifer Dene
As your wedding date approaches and the days speed up, you need to prioritize time for slowing down. I’m talking meditation, and today I’m here to help you get started with this amazing (yet sometimes challenging) stress buster!
Full disclosure, developing a meditation habit was not easy for me. I struggled (still struggle) with allowing my mind to soften and would often think that I didn’t have time to meditate.
Ironically, the people who “don’t have time” for meditation are the ones who need it the most.
Learning to stick to a regular meditation routine was one of the most valuable habits I’ve developed, and I’m rewarded with a sense of calm and clarity that is difficult to achieve in any other way — except, perhaps, when hiking or swimming.
“Why Should It Be A Priority?”
Meditation and relaxation are one of the first tenets of health that I teach my bridal clients. Believe it or not, this is more important than all of the nutrition and fitness advice combined!
Mini-rests, which is what you experience during meditation, calms the mind and resets the nervous system. When you prioritize mental rest you are able to face every day, experience and challenge, with a fresh attitude and positive energy. Suddenly those not-yet-received ‘RSVPs’ don’t seem like such a big deal (although let’s be honest, they’re still really annoying!)
“But I Don’t Know How To Meditate"
I hear you! It’s easy to think that meditation means clearing your mind, stopping your thoughts and seeing rainbows and dancing elephants float past your third eye. While that would be cool, it's actually not the case.
The purpose of meditation is to simply turn your attention inward and allow thoughts to come and go with ease – view it as slowing down the frenetic pace of your bridal mind, not shutting it down altogether.
So, instead of thinking that you have to chant your way into a sense of oblivion, be open to the idea of simply sitting without distraction for 5 minutes each day.
“I Like The Idea, But I Want More Guidance”
There are many meditation and visualization courses available on the internet. Some for free, some for a fee. The resources below were designed to help busy people like you make meditation more accessible in your everyday life. They are what I use on a regular basis and I’m sure that you will find them useful too.
1. Calm
Got 2, 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes? Calm has a selection of relaxing meditations waiting for you.
2. Headspace
Prefer verbal guidance? Try the free 10 minutes for 10 days challenge.
3. Oprah + Deepak Chopra
Throughout the year Oprah and Deepak Chopra release free 21-day guided meditation series. The next one is due to start on November 2nd, so jump on board!
These 20 minute meditations, which arrive in your inbox everyday, are a great way to wind down before bed.
Now I’d love to hear from you! Do you have a meditation practice? If not, why not? If so, how has it benefited your experience of wedding planning? Let me know in the comments below.
I’ll see you again next week for another Jennifer Dene at-home workout.
Until then, happy relaxing!
Jennifer Dene xox
