Meditation and mindfulness are often overlooked when it comes to combating digestive issues, but participating in mindful activities can actually be a great way to keep digestive issues at bay on a day-to-day basis. A prolonged state of stress can cause our bodies to have trouble properly recovering enough to do its job which leads to indigestion.
Meditation and mindfulness activities help to trigger your parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for relaxing your body when it is experiencing prolonged states of stress or panic. It is also responsible for ensuring the proper maintenance of several different systems in your body, including your digestive system.
Below, we have compiled a list of different ways in which you can practice mindfulness in your day-to-day life in order to ensure you are living in a state of peace that will allow your body to properly act out its responsibilities.
The Benefits of Meditation and the Right Time to Meditate
Part of meditating is learning how to sit with yourself in silence and complete stillness. In today’s society, it can become easy to get wrapped up in the constant buzz of daily life, but it is important to take a step back and allow ourselves time away from the constant stimulation we experience. We need to allow our bodies the chance to reach a state of relaxation in order to avoid issues such as indigestion, inflammation, and chronic stress.
Meditation helps to lower your stress levels, calm any intruding thoughts, help you to gain a new perspective on life, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, as well as improve the quality of your sleep. Meditation can be especially helpful for those who experience generalized anxiety throughout their day.
There is no set period of time that one is supposed to participate in meditation. However, there are specific benefits to the different times.
In the Mornings
Meditating first in the morning is beneficial for those days when you know you have a jam-packed schedule. Meditation is a great way to get your head straight, calm any racing thoughts, and give yourself a boost of confidence for the day ahead.
During Your Day
Sometimes we might not anticipate the stress that is to come with the day ahead. Next time you find yourself fidgety, overwhelmed, and procrastinating at your work space, try to find a quiet space and guide yourself through a short period of meditation. In this case, meditating will help to center your thoughts, boost your mood, and allow you to come back to your workspace feeling refreshed.
In the Evenings
Meditating at night is especially helpful for those who find it challenging to achieve quality sleep. Meditation can help to quiet your thoughts and trigger your parasympathetic nervous system, which sends a signal to your body to enter a state of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Depending on your need, you can incorporate meditation wherever you see fit.
Small Additions to Add to Your Daily Life to Promote Consistent Stress Relief in Your Life
Meditation is not the only form of mindfulness that you can add to your daily life. Below are some other forms of mindfulness that can benefit your overall health.
Yoga
Yoga is a great way to practice mindfulness and get some exercise throughout your day. Yoga goes hand in hand with meditation. It is vital that you are in a state of mindfulness when you are doing yoga. Otherwise, you are not going to reap the beneficial effects of the exercise. Yoga does not only put a strain on your body, but also your mind. It requires you to connect your brain and body synchronously. The benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, more consistent bowel movements, and reduced stress levels.
Focus on how you are breathing
Being mindful of your breathing is not only important when you are meditating, but it is beneficial to check in on your breathing throughout your day. Really focus your attention on the consistency of your breathing. If you find yourself taking shallow breaths, allow yourself the time to get in some really deep breaths. Ensuring you are breathing properly will allow for a heightened state of alertness and can lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
Pay attention to where you are
Our day-to-day lifestyle can get so busy that sometimes we forget to take in what surrounds us. It is important to center ourselves in nature and allow ourselves the chance to truly take in where we are physically. This will help us to stay grounded both physically and mentally.
How to Stay Mindful When Eating and The Digestive Benefits it Can Have
Mindful eating is a habit that can transform the way your digestive system works. It can be easy to eat a meal without truly thinking of what we are doing. Whether that is because we have our favorite show going on in the background or we are trying to tackle sending those extra emails out during lunch hour.
Regardless of the reason, distractions should be minimized during mealtime, because they can lead to indigestion. Instead, try and focus on the meal you are consuming and the signals your body is trying to send you. You might find that you are reaching the point of satisfaction earlier than you would have noticed beforehand.
Mindful eating leaves no room for overeating. It also promotes proper digestion, because you are giving yourself the chance to break down the foods more efficiently before they enter your digestive tract. This helps to put less strain on your digestive system and can help to minimize issues such as bloating, constipation, and stomach pain.
If for some reason you do experience bloating, it is recommended to take a supplement for bloating that contains probiotics and/or top rated digestive enzymes. Sexy & Slim is a supplement that helps with bloating that can be taken once a day to reduce any adverse digestive ailments.
Incorporating mindful habits into your daily life is not an easy feat, but its benefits can be felt far beyond your mind.