Meditation, A Tool To Cope With Quarantine | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Meditation, A Tool To Cope With Quarantine

Why You Should Give Meditation A Try During This Difficult Time

73
Meditation, A Tool To Cope With Quarantine

There's a time in everyone's lives that we feel the need to revamp our lifestyle. Maybe it was last summer or January, or more likely it's right now in quarantine that we are all trying new things to make our lives a little better. When unhappy with how I've been feeling I try to get out of it by starting to make some changes to how I'm living. A lot of the changes people tend to make include eating a healthier diet, buying a gym membership and working out, going to some type of therapy, or starting up a new hobby. All of these changes are positive ones that I encourage people to take on in their lives, but there is one change that a lot of people dismiss that I think could do a whole lot of good.

Meditation is the practice of focusing one's mind deeply or thinking deeply in silence or with some sort of chanting. In movies and tv shows meditation is depicted as a hippy activity where women in yoga pants and men with long beards sit in a circle with their legs crossed chanting "Om," but it doesn't have to be that way. Meditation can simply be you laying down and focusing solely on your breathing in silence or with a guide for a period of time.

Although I use the term "simply," meditation isn't always going to be that simple. It can be very difficult to not let your mind wander into a daydream, a list of things you need to do, or worries about the outside world. This can lead to some frustration, but many meditation leaders emphasize keeping that frustration at bay by recognizing that you've wandered, accepting it, and returning to the focus on your breath without any anger with yourself. A meditation leader once told me to picture my younger self and imagine her walking out into a busy street and rather than grabbing her by the arm, scolding her, and dragging her back to the sidewalk, instead walk up to her, put your arm around her, and calmly lead her back to the sidewalk.

Meditation can help you feel less stressed or anxious, it can strengthen memory and attention span, and it can increase self-awareness. Scientists have proven over and over again that meditation is healthy and beneficial in so many ways, yet so few people practice it on a regular basis.

I believe that this is because of the fast-paced society that we live in today. Our normal days are full of distractions. Everyone values ambition, hard work, efficiency, and multi-tasking. With the pressures to work hard and play hard as well as the constant distractions provided by the notifications on our phones, laptops, and more, it can be very difficult and seem very wasteful to take twenty minutes to sit and focus on breathing.

This is why quarantine is the perfect time for people to add the practice of meditation into their daily routines. Not only do most people now have the extra time, but most people are in desperate need of meditation and don't know it. The COVID-19 pandemic is hands down one of the worst things to ever happen while we've been alive. How does one deal with that? Many people are struggling with their mental health while being stuck at home worrying about the world around them, which is why a moment of focus on a simple thing like your breath or the voice of a guide can relieve some of the stress we are all carrying.

Before the coronavirus officially reached the United States and started affecting American lives, I was starting to feel like I was drowning in life, with all the things I had to do and worry about that all seem silly now. Meditation helped me deal with the pressure I put on myself and now it is helping me and can help you cope with the crazy world around us. Meditation can feel like a waste of time in the moment, but don't give up because I feel a little better about life every time I do it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189269
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14327
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457422
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26389
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments