It's no secret that life can be overwhelming no matter what stage you're in. Being a parent, student, teacher, employee, spouse, or filling a variety of other roles can be exhausting, and sometimes you need to give yourself permission to stop, release, and relax. Guided meditation allows you to take 5 minutes or more to relieve emotional, physical, and mental stress and move forward with your day in a positive manner.
What is Guided Meditation?
It probably feels like you're moving full speed ahead day in and day out. You likely struggle to slow down, and once you physically slow down, your brain starts moving full throttle. You may wish you could just stop thinking for a few minutes. Though it may sound impossible, it isn't! That's why we recommend guided meditation for stress. A third-party leads your meditation experience either in person or via a recording, thus guiding you to a place of stillness of mind and body.
The benefits of guided meditation include:
- Building skills to manage your stress
- Increasing self-awareness
- Focusing on the present
- Reducing negative emotions
Guided meditation is beneficial anytime but is ideally practiced three times a day (morning, midday, and evening). However, if you're unable to commit to three times a day, I recommend participating in evening meditation to get started. Whether you prefer to participate in morning, midday, or evening meditation, we're going to outline best practices and which essentials oils to use for meditation at certain times of the day so you can receive the most benefit.
Morning Meditation
Are you wondering how to meditate in the morning? Morning meditation is different for everyone as some people are quick to get out of bed in the mornings while others lay in bed for several minutes after waking up. I recommend starting your morning with an uplifting essential oil. My preference is the Elevation blend by doTERRA. All you have to do is put one drop in your hand (incorporate with coconut oil or a fragrance free lotion to reduce the intensity), rub your hands together, cup your hands over your mouth and nose, and inhale your uplifting oil of choice. If you have any additional oil on your hands, rub it on your chest and the back of your neck. This process helps jump-start your respiratory system in the morning.
The next step is to lay in your bed for 5 to 10 minutes while listening to our morning meditation recording. You can do this before you ever get out of bed, or you can get your day started before you begin your meditation. This process is for you and only you, so be sure you find what works best!
Midday Meditation
Have you ever gone back to the office after lunch feeling sluggish and unmotivated to make it through the day? This is a great time for meditation! If you're able, consider spending the last part of your lunch break working towards setting the tone for a positive remainder of the workday. All you need is 10 to 15 minutes of meditation. To energize, uplift, and motivate, use citrus essential oils such as Lemon, Wild Orange, or the doTERRA Citrus Bliss blend to enhance your guided meditation.
Evening Meditation
This is my favorite time for meditation. For evening meditation, you will need some more preparation.
If you have a diffuser, get it started an hour before getting ready for bed. I love the Serenity blend and even rub it on the bottom of my feet. This oil promotes sleep and relaxation. Next, you want to make sure you're fully ready for bed. This includes brushing your teeth, taking a shower if needed, getting the kids to bed, having the dishes done, or any other looming tasks. Upon completion, listen to our evening meditation recording and feel the weight of the day come off your shoulders.
Free Guided Meditation Downloads
I frequently am asked about guided meditation, but after looking on the internet, I've never found one that really hit home for me. With that being said, I have recently added downloadable recordings of my guided meditations! We're so excited and hope you find peace and relaxation from these meditation recordings.