How many of you have heard that meditating is one of the best ways to relax or help with focus? I don’t know about everyone else, but with ADHD, meditation can be next to impossible. Calming the mind for someone like me can be a bit of a challenge. Between the hyperfocus of trying to calm my mind to the need to fidget, it seemed like more of a chore than anything. Plus, the time suggestions required all put me off of meditation. Things like, “start with only 10 minutes and work from there.” Ten minutes for someone with ADHD to sit still and try to calm their mind can feel like forever.
Thankfully I found something that worked for me, and I thought I would share it with you because maybe it would help. First off, things that involve movement meditation seem to work for me. Merriam-Webster defines meditation as “to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.” Movement meditation involves a repetition of movements and an awareness of those movements, including what is happening within your body. Some examples of movement meditation include Tai Chi, Yoga, Qigong, and walking. Some people also find that cleaning, gardening, and dancing are types of movement meditations that work for them.
Of those movement meditations listed, I found that Tai Chi works the best for me. Tai Chi involves a set of slow movements, controlled breathing, and a quiet mind. The Tai Chi set I learned has 108 different movements, which I learned over several weeks. With routine practice, muscle memory occurred. Eventually, when doing a set, the movements flowed without thought; for me, it became only breath and movement. It is the one practice I found that I can turn off my inner monologue.
I don’t nearly practice as much as I would like, but I plan to up my practice of it again soon. Tai Chi works for me to quiet my mind, and I highly recommend giving it a try. If there is another type of movement meditation that calls to you, then definitely go for it. It is worth giving it a shot, even if it helps a bit with ADHD thoughts; to me, it is worth it.