Being Mindful

The brain is the hardware. The mind is the software. How often do you need to restart, or reboot, your computer? Your phone? When was the last time you restarted your mind?

Mindful not Mind full: How many times have your heard people talk about meditating or trying to find some peace in their lives? There appears to be more and more on this in the popular media. Is there really something to it?

Bringing order from chaos. Being mindful has numerous advantages in our everyday lives, and especially in our sex lives.

  • Reduced stress and anxiety
  • Clearer thinking
  • Increases working memory
  • Boosts higher level brain functions
  • Reduces run-on thought processes

When is the best time to meditate? Set point in your morning routine (after you are out of bed) that you can meditate everyday, for example: before breakfast; before your shower; after your first cup of coffee; etc. This only takes 10 minutes. If you have a tight morning routine, wake up 10 minutes early. This allows your mind to be clearer going into the day. For people who are feeling stressed or beginners, the thought of meditating at all can be daunting. If this you, try simply putting your attention on slower, deeper breathing—even for just five minutes—early in the day before getting busy.

What is the best position to Meditate? There dozens of variations and techniques available, perhaps the simplest is just sitting. Sit in your chair with a straight back and with your feet flat on the floor. Your upper and lower legs should be at a 90 degree angle. Sit up straight, so that your head and neck are in line with your spine. You can put a pillow behind your lower back or under your hips if needed for support. Rest you hands on your knees or in your lap, whichever is more comfortable.

Distractions: Daily meditation only takes 10 minutes. Immediately life threatening events can interupt you, but everything else can wait 10 minutes. Power down your phone, TV and other devices or meditate where you cannot normally be disturbed.

There’s an app for that! There are many mobile apps available to help you with being mindful. Try Headspace, Calm, and the Mindfulness App. These are very beginner-friendly mindfulness apps with recordings for guided mindfulness and meditation exercises.

Here are a few videos on the hows and whys and even one providing guided meditation: