Let’s face it: stress is just a natural part of modern life. Every day brings more for us to do—new challenges and obligations are always piling up. With all these demands we face and all the activity we do, surely there has to be a way to stop and find a little inner peace.

One simple solution is meditation, an exercise that focuses on breathing and relaxed posture to deepen one’s sense of mindfulness. Meditation expert Jon-Kabat Zinn defines mindfulness as “moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.”

Although it was originally developed as a religious exercise by such traditions as Hinduism and Buddhism, meditation can also be performed for its own sake. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that, “Meditation may be practiced for many reasons, such as to increase calmness and physical relaxation, to improve psychological balance, to cope with illness, or to enhance overall health and well-being.”

To begin a healthy practice of meditation, there are four things you’ll need to remember:

1. Find a quiet place. Whether it’s in the privacy of your bedroom or the break room at the office, any spot with low foot traffic and a quiet atmosphere is ideal for regaining a sense of peace.
2. Adopt a comfortable posture. Meditation can be done while sitting, standing, walking or lying down. The point is to make yourself as comfortable as possible without losing your focus.
3. Focus on something relaxing. The key to meditation is developing consciousness. You can focus your attention on something, whether it’s a mantra (a word or a phrase that you can repeat to yourself), an object (like a painting or a window), or just the sensation of breathing in and out. As with the posture and place you choose to meditate, focus on whatever you find comfortable and accessible.
4. Keep an open mind. While you might find it difficult to concentrate at first, don’t be discouraged. Distracting thoughts and outside noises will come and go. Meditation allows for us to observe our own mind. Using your focus—whether it’s a mantra, an object, or your own breathing—you can always bring yourself back to a calm, collected center.

One of the advantages to meditation is that it can be done anywhere for any length of time. It requires only a commitment of time and willpower, but can bring anyone to a sense of true peace day by day.

Image Credit: IchZeit on Flickr