Mindfulness and Meditation; the doorway to inner peace

The constant hustle and bustle in the world makes it difficult to find peace and quiet, especially if live in a fast-paced city like Lagos. It is in times like these that the concept of mindfulness and meditation should be taken into consideration.  
Mindfulness is the practice of consciously living in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, feelings and environs without being judgmental.
Meditation on the other hand is an act of concentration to reach mental clarity and emotional calm.

Importance of meditation in mental health
You concentrating on decluttering your mind to maintain your mental steeze and emotional composure has certain mental health benefits which includes:
- Reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is as a result of the calm that comes with meditation. You feel less anxious when your mind is clear and the emotions are at ease.
- Improved mood and proper emotional regulation. You are less snappy, which is sometimes impossible not to be, but with less tension in your system, it is achievable.
- Enhanced cognitive function. As there’s no World War II going on in your mind, it is easier to ingest and process information. And it allows you some level of optimal efficiency.
- Boost in attention span and memory. With decluttering your mind comes more space to focus on important tasks, and to retain necessary information.

Creating a schedule that allows meditation to keep your mind grounded
Coming up with a workable plan that allows you to meditate to maintain mental balance doesn’t have to be difficult.
If you’re a busy person, then your plan has to be flexible, but if you have more time on your hands, you can have a fixed time frame for meditation.
- Start Small: When you’re starting out, begin with just a few minutes each day and gradually increase the duration.
- Find a Quiet Space: Choose a quiet and comfortable place with less or no distractions.
- Use Resources: You can use apps, books, and online materials to guide your practice. A YouTube video would come in handy for you.
- Be Patient: Creating a regular practice will take some time, so be patient with yourself, as you make a habit of it.

How to Incorporate Mindfulness in Your Daily Life
- Through mindful breathing, in and out of one’s body, noticing the in-breath and out-breath.
- Consciously drink water at intervals.
- Make your bed every morning: This allows you to live in the moment and it makes you patient as opposed to the habit of rolling out of bed, rushing to the bathroom and racing out of your house.
- Enjoy a moment offline
- Stretch your body whenever you can
- And be kind to yourself, treat yourself as you would a good friend.
Mindfulness and meditation are powerful practices to help you calm your mind and  bring about balance in your lifestyle. Introducing it as a daily habit can lead to some significant changes in your mental and physical health.