Mental Health

5 Ways to Focus during Meditation

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Nov 29, 2014 10:00 AM EST

Meditation is a practice that involves training the brain to reach a different level of consciousness. When training, people are often told to clear their mind and avoid thinking about anything, which can be a very difficult task. Instead of giving up on meditation, here are five tips on how to focus on the task:

1. Pick something that works for you

No two people are wired in the same way. In order to make meditation work for you in particular, pick an activity that caters to your needs. For example, when learning how to meditate, people are taught how to use a chant to achieve a contemplative state. If repeating "ommm" is not effective, you can use another phrase. In addition, you can also repeat phrases and practice meditating anywhere.

2. Feel gratitude

For some people, being in a happy state before meditating can help the mind focus. To induce a state of joy and gratitude, take two minutes before your session to think about five people you are grateful for.

3. Start small

Whenever you are starting a new task, it is important to start slowly and progress with time. If you start too fast and fail, the task can become discouraging. For meditation, try an easy breathing exercise first before diving into the practice.

4. Wish others well

Even though meditation is a solo task, wishing others well can aid you during your session later. By hoping that other people do well in their respective tasks, you are eliminating feelings of hostility, which can help you concentrate a lot more effectively during meditation.

5. Use an app

If all else fails, try using an app. There are several different kinds of apps that offer tips on meditation.

In order to form any kind of habit, you must stick with it first.

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