Morning meditation: How to boost your mental health during tough times

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the nation hard, proving even deadlier than the first one. The cases are rising every day with near and dear ones getting affected. Amid the lockdown, stress and anxiety have reached an all-time high. During these testing times, it is extremely important to take care of your mental health, and a good way to start is by adhering to a morning routine.

How you start your morning sets the tone for the day. By keeping aside a few minutes for morning meditation, you set yourself up for a calm, stress-free and productive day. Meditating in the morning can help your mind feel rested and free from stress and worries.

To develop this practice, you need to commit to the process. The first step is to decide how much time you want to devote to meditation. For instance, if you’re a beginner, meditating every day for 30 minutes would be practically impossible for you. The amount of attention you need to develop for longer sessions only comes with time and practice. So, start small. Allocate five to ten minutes every day, and then gradually increase the duration, depending on what feels right for you.

If you’re still wondering whether or not to include meditation in your morning routine, here are a few benefits that can help make your decision easy.

Sets a positive tone for your day

Most of us start our days fighting with our alarm clocks, refusing to leave the bed. This attitude causes a ripple that can affect the rest of your day. But when you take the time to meditate in the morning, even if it’s only for five minutes, you give your mind a chance to wake up and prepare before you dive into your tasks. You feel an immediate mood boost, and your body feels prepared to tackle the day. This ritual empties your mind of the residual thoughts from the previous day, hence making room for fresh new ideas.

Counteracts stress and anxiety

Meditation, in its simplest form, is all about learning how not to lose your focus. When practised in the morning, it can help you slow down your thoughts and bring inner peace. According to a study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, meditation can also help ease psychological stresses like anxiety, depression, and pain. Dr. Elizabeth Hoge, a psychiatrist at the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital, says that mindfulness meditation makes perfect sense for treating anxiety. She further states that it reduces amygdala reactivity, which is the part of the brain responsible for your stress response.