COVID-19 has challenged our emotional state more than any other time in modern history.

Fear and anxiety about the new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health mandates, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Further, our emotional health can have a profound effect on our physical health. Your physical body is not a separate entity from your emotional experience. Emotions & happen in isolation and it has also been shown that consistent negative emotions can have a damaging effect on the immune system and the inflammatory system. The good news is finding 10 minutes to practice the daily routine of meditation will help you feel better and strengthen your emotional state. Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada found that meditating for just 10 minutes a day was enough to see significant results. As long as it is done consistently, sitting still and breathing deeply for just 10 minutes can help you concentrate better throughout the day. Additional benefits include:

• It reduces stress.
• It helps combat social anxiety.
• It increases tolerance to pain.
• It boosts creativity & productivity.
• It helps with feelings of isolation.
• It enhances kindness & compassion.
• It improves sleep quality.
• It improves memory & attention.

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Whether you simply want to calm your mind or experience deep inner transformation, adding a 10 minute meditation to your daily routine can help you manage your stress and enhance your emotional and physical wellbeing.

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Dr. E is a Licensed professional counselor, certified coach, and founder of The Parent Pilot an “all things parenting” organization that helps parents successfully navigate the turbulent, but joyous years of parenting.

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