Hey Homebodies,
This past year I’ve really let go of the concept of the ‘perfect’ self-care, or specifically, meditation, routine. Consistency is great, and there are parts of my life where I love a routine, but in this stage of my life right now, forcing myself to do a meditation to keep my streak on an app or because I ‘should’ just doesn’t work for me. I’ve let go of that pressure.
So that’s where these alternatives come in. I like to have a self-care first aid kit, a repertoire of choices that I can pick from that will help to nurture me in the moment.
Sometimes meditation just isn’t my vibe. When I feel incredibly upset or angry, I deeply feel it in my body, and the last thing I want to do is to sit without moving and close my eyes. It feels like a volcano that’s getting ready to erupt.
Meditation has been lauded as a universal remedy for a myriad of mental health issues, but as a space for accessible self-care, it’s super important to highlight that meditation isn’t for everyone - and that’s totally okay!
For neurodiverse baddies, sitting still and focusing on the breath can be a challenging, if not impossible, task that can lead to feeling frustrated or defeated.
Likewise, for those who have experienced trauma, meditation can sometimes trigger flashbacks or adverse emotional responses.
And for some people, they can experience physical discomfort or pain when trying to maintain a meditative posture for an extended period. This can be due to chronic pain issues or other medical conditions that make sitting still difficult.
If you resonate with any of the above, you’re in the right place!
This edition of ‘Finding Home’ explores three different accessible (and free) methods that you can try if meditation just isn’t hitting for you, with supportive videos, written steps and resources to make it as easy as possible.