Is retirement the right time to take up meditation?

They say retirement is the best time to take up new hobbies and do all those things you have never had time to do.

So is mindfulness and meditation worth the hype, and should it be on your retirement bucket list?

Mindfulness is the quality of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment.

(Headspace.com)

Meditation is one of the ways in which we can reach the state of mindfulness described above. It usually involves regular practice, a bit like a type of “relaxation therapy”.

Some of the benefits of mindfulness:

  • Reduced anxiety and stress
  • Enhanced mental state and functioning
  • Improved sleep
  • Enhanced patience, acceptance, and compassion
  • Increased sense of calm
  • Improved ability to be in the present moment
  • Increased sense of positivity
  • A toolbox of techniques to help the body deal and cope with pain

This sounds pretty good, how do we do it?

There are lots of resources to help you dip your toe into the water to explore the world of mindfulness. There are Youtube tutorials, podcasts to listen to (direct from your phone or computer) and a whole lot of easy to use aps that start at a beginner level. The best way to achieve results in this area is to remember the 2 Ps: Patience and Practice! The benefits won’t happen overnight, and committing to even just 5-10 minutes each day to practice will achieve great results.

So is retirement the time to take up mindfulness and meditation?

Imagine if your Doctor offered you a medication to make you calmer, less stressed, happier and more productive in your retirement years… We think the answer would be “Namaste”!

A few handy resources:

www.healthdirect.gov.au/meditation

www.headspace.com

Easy to use aps:

www.smilingmind.com.au

www.calm.com

Podcasts:

www.themeditationpodcast.com/

www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditations/