r/mindfulnessmeditation

4-7-8 Breathing Exercise for Anxiety Relief

4-7-8 Breathing Exercise for Anxiety Relief

Hi! How are you? Lately I'm doing more of this exercises due to high levels of cortisol and stress. They make me feel better. I saw a video once that guided me and decided to make one myself. Could anybody tell me if you find these kind of videos helpful? Would you do anything different? I thoght about adding a breathing sound so you can follow the video with your eyes closed.. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Be well.

youtu.be
u/pezon_radioactivo — 23 hours ago
▲ 8 r/mindfulnessmeditation+3 crossposts

How to Meditate Daily (Four Useful Tips for Building the Habit)

If you are aware of the numerous benefits of meditation, the next challenge you might face is consistency. I've collected these tips for you to help you practice regularly and learn how to meditate daily 🧘‍♂️

1: Choose your anchor

The single most important thing you can do before your first session is decide when meditation will happen and attach it to something you already do.

This is called habit stacking — placing a new behavior directly after an existing one, so the first habit cues the second without requiring extra willpower.

Good anchor options include:

  • Right after your first coffee or tea
  • Directly after brushing your teeth in the morning
  • The moment you sit at your desk before opening an email
  • After lunch, before getting back to work
  • Right before sleep, while lying down

2: Set up your space

You need a place where you can sit comfortably and not be interrupted for five to ten minutes.

The environment matters because it signals to your brain that it's time to shift gears. A consistent spot (even just a corner of the couch or a specific chair) becomes a powerful contextual cue over time.

Tips for a distraction-free space:

  • Sit upright: Whether on a chair, cushion, or the floor. Lying down works for body scans but tends to invite sleep.
  • Reduce visual noise: Face a wall or simply close your eyes from the start.
  • Be consistent: Use the same spot each time, at least until the habit is firmly established.
  • Silence your phone: Notifications are a major disruptor of the relaxed alertness you're trying to cultivate.

3: Start small

Start with just five minutes. This might feel too easy to be worth it, but that's exactly the point. The goal in the first two weeks isn't to reach enlightenment; it's simply to show up consistently.

4: Choose a technique and commit to it

One of the fastest ways to stall a meditation practice is "technique hopping." Pick one method and stick with it for your first two weeks. Consistency with a single method is how you actually build the skill.

I'm putting together a list of my fave meditation techniques, and I'll share them shortly!

reddit.com
u/Enliven_journey — 4 days ago
▲ 198 r/mindfulnessmeditation+3 crossposts

Strength Comes From Getting Back Up

• Life will knock you down sometimes.

• Real strength isn't about never falling.

• It's about standing up again, learning from it, and moving forward no matter how hard things get.

• Every setback is a chance to become stronger.

u/KnowledgeOld4068 — 12 days ago
▲ 39 r/mindfulnessmeditation+1 crossposts

Do you know what your next thought will be ?

Try it for yourself. Take a moment and see if you can predict your next thought before it appears. Most of us assume we are in control of our thoughts, but this simple exercise raises an interesting question.

u/Sathpaal — 13 days ago