Practical Tips for Successful Meditation 

Now that you are aware of what meditation entails and the many benefits that you can gain from practicing meditation daily, there are some practical tips that can help you get the best out of your meditation practice. As a beginner, the following tips can help you overcome common problems that are related to the mediation process

Start Small 

There have been numerous studies that have shown, that beginners who started their practice with meditating for three to five minutes, managed to sustain the practice and develop it as a habit.  

As you begin your meditation practice, start by taking at least three deep breaths as you pay attention to the various sensations that you feel throughout your body

Have a Clear Understanding of the Benefits

If you suffer from anxiety, depression, or stress, it is important to have a clear understanding of what meditation can do for you.  

Meditation For Complete Beginners 

  Meditation will help you learn how you can recognize the destructive patterns that you may continue to fall into, like engaging in critical thoughtsthat trigger the stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms that you are trying to conquer. 

Understand the Principles of Meditation 

When most people start practicing meditation, they get to a point where they believe that the goal is to reach a state of consciousness where they are able to focus without getting distracted.  

However, the focus shouldn't be on how not to get distracted; instead, it should be on becoming more aware so that you can recognize when your mind starts to drift. If you cannot identify your thoughts, it will be impossible to restructure them. You need to develop an awareness so that you can clearly identify your thoughts. 

Another principle that you should be aware of as a beginner is the ability to redirect your attention back to the point of focus whenever you find yourself drifting. This should be done without criticizing yourself. 

Follow the Path the Works Well for You

once you become aware of the steps of meditation and the principles that follow, you can choose the meditationpath that appeals to you. path that appeals to you. 

If you find that walking is an ideal practice because you can concentrate better, then you can choose to focus on meditating while walking. Practicing meditation while walking can also help you eliminate distractions.  

You can focus your walking so that the first ten minutes of your meditation is focused on a minute of feeling the sensations in your body, another minute feeling your breath, another minute on what you hear, another on what you see, and one more on the feeling of the air on your skin. 

This can be followed by the remaining five minutes being focused on your awareness, where you can freely observe your level of consciousness. You should avoid using your senses and just focus on your consciousness.  

If you find that your thoughts are starting to drift to the future or the past, then turn back to any of the points of focus from the first five minutes and stabilize your attention to the present moment

Engage in Regular Practice 

Engaging in the practice of meditation daily can be challenging, but you will only realize the desired goal if you are committed to the training. Regularly practicing meditation will also enable you to become more familiar with the exercise until it becomes a habit. 

Fuel Your Body with the Right Foods 

The foods that you consume before starting your practice can have a tremendous impact on your overall health and well-being.  

Foods help in nourishing the body and can affect the level of awareness and quietness that you achieve during your practice. The type of food that you eat can also be the reason why you might find it difficult to engage in meditation.  

Eating certain foods before engaging in meditation may cause you to have a lack of concentration or become sleepy during the process.  

It is recommended that you wait at least two hours after eating before you begin your meditation practice. Here are some of the healthy foods that you should eat before starting a meditation session. 

Fresh Fruit. 

Fresh fruits are ideal to eat before practicing meditation. Fruits are healthy and help you to produce the glucose that you neConsuming simple carbohydrates like foods and beverages with high sugar content should be avoided at all costs.

   Dark Chocolate 

The flavonoids in dark chocolate help to promote blood flow to the brain, which can help to enhance your memory, focus, and learning. To avoid too many calories and fat intake, you should only consume a couple of pieces at a time. 

Green Smoothie 

The leafy green vegetables that go into a green smoothie are loaded with antioxidants that help boost your brain power. To bring a sweeter taste to the smoothie, consider adding fresh fruit. To make it even more powerful, consider adding coconut oil, avocados, and flaxseed.  

Almonds 

A handful of almonds contain the necessary nutrients that are needed to reduce hunger while boosting energy. Consuming a handful of almonds before your meditation session can be extremely beneficial for your practice.  

 Water 

To help wake up your brain, you should consume a glass of water before beginning your meditation practice. Along with helping to wake your mind, it also works to get your body rehydrated to avoid getting sleepy during your session. 

Foods to Avoid Before Meditation 

Just like there are some foods that will benefit your meditation practice if consumed shortly before a session, there are foods that you will want to avoid because of the detrimental effect they can have on your training

. Caffeinated Drinks

The intake of drinks and foods like tea, caffeine, and soda in high amounts, should be avoided, as the stimulant in these drinks can make it difficult to keep your mind calm and can even hinder you from getting into a more profound meditative state. 

Simple Carbohydrates 

Consuming simple carbohydrates like foods and beverages with high sugar content should be avoided at all costs.  Water 

To help wake up your brain, you should consume a glass of water before beginning your meditation practice. Along with helping to wake your mind, it also works to get your body rehydrated to avoid getting sleepy during your session. 

Foods to Avoid Before Meditation 

Just like there are some foods that will benefit your meditation practice if consumed shortly before a session, there are foods that you will want to avoid because of the detrimental effect they can have on your training. 

Caffeinated Drinks 

The intake of drinks and foods like tea, caffeine, and soda in high amounts, should be avoided, as the stimulant in these drinks can make it difficult to keep your mind calm and can even hinder you from getting into a more profound meditative state. 

Simple Carbohydrates 

Consuming simple carbohydrates like foods and beverages with high sugar content should be avoided at all costs.  Water 

To help wake up your brain, you should consume a glass of water before beginning your meditation practice. Along with helping to wake your mind, it also works to get your body rehydrated to avoid getting sleepy during your session. 

Foods to Avoid Before Meditation 

Just like there are some foods that will benefit your meditation practice if consumed shortly before a session, there are foods that you will want to avoid because of the detrimental effect they can have on your training. 

Caffeinated Drinks 

The intake of drinks and foods like tea, caffeine, and soda in high amounts, should be avoided, as the stimulant in these drinks can make it difficult to keep your mind calm and can even hinder you from getting into a more profound meditative state. 

Simple Carbohydrates 

Consuming simple carbohydrates like foods and beverages with high sugar content should be avoided at all costs. Consuming simple carbohydrates like foods and beverages with high sugar content should be avoided at all costs.  

These can all lead to a spike in your blood sugar levels, which, after a short time will cause you to crash, making you feel drowsy and sluggish. Meditating when you are tired may not lead to the ealization of your desired goals  

 Fresh Fruits 

Fresh fruits are ideal to eat before practicing meditation. Fruits are healthy 

 These can all lead to a spike in your blood sugar levels, which, after a short time will cause you to crash, making you feel drowsy and sluggish. Meditating when you are tired may not lead to the realization of your desired goals. 

Heavy Meals 

Avoid eating foods that are rich in sugar, fat, and starch, as well as foods that contain creamy sauces and cheese. Your body requires sufficient energy to carry out the digestion of heavy meals, which may lead to you feeling sleepy during meditation.  

As you plan for your meditation practice, take the time to consider the types of foods that you eat so that your meditation practice will flow smoothly, giving you the best chance of reaching your desired results. 

Conclusion 

Meditation is a technique that is very effective for self-discovery. It has been proven to help with overcoming many medical conditions, including stress, anxiety, and depression. 

Whether you are a beginner who is just starting out with the meditation process or you are well versed in the practice, there are techniques that can benefit you greatly when practiced on a regular basis.  

Nothing is worth the time spent in meditation, especially if it has the potential to enable you to overcome the stress, depress, and anxiety in your life to get to a place of awareness. A place where clarity of mind and peacefulness is normal.  

Meditation is the key to releasing you from the fight or flight responses that have been ingrained in us for centuries and bringing you true peace at the moment, regardless of what is happening around you. 

Make the best use of the information in this guide and start practicing the different meditation techniques to find a higher awareness and peace in your life. Unless you are a true beginner, you can try out other forms of meditation that expose you to great dimensions of existence.  

Use meditation to continue to improve your life and overall wellbeing.