As a bonus, meditationmay help boost your immune system.

Here are five different ways to use meditation to make yourself feel less miserable.

All you need is a comfortable chair and a quiet room.

What Happens to the Brain When You Meditate

Continue breathing naturally for a few minutes, or focusing on body sensations.

For some of us, its been since middle or high school.

Right now, between the coughing and sneezing, is the perfect time to start.

Visualizing images gives you the space to think beyond your current pain and create your own happy ending.

For this exercise, you’re able to close your eyes or keep them openwhatever you prefer.

Imagine what it would feel like without the pain.

What would you be doing?

How would you feel?

Dont limit yourself to your everyday surroundings.

If you like, picture yourself on the beach with a cocktail in hand.

Or maybe you see yourself gathered around family and friends during Thanksgiving.

Youre only bound by your imagination.

The goal is to imprint enjoyable experiences in your mind.

Itll help you move past any discomfort.

My immediate reaction was to tell her everywhere.

Suffering from a severe case of the flu, I couldnt differentiate between subtle aches and excruciating pain.

With mindfulness, you’re free to take deliberate steps toward figuring out the origin of your pain.

Body scanning is the practice of drawing awareness to every inch of your body.

you’re free to lie in bed and gradually acknowledge each body part, from head to toe.

Its an opportunity for you to feel those sensations of tingling, tightness, and pressure.

Its your choice, but it all begins with body scanning.

Repeat Positive Mantras

What you think is what you believe.

Thats why saying positive thoughts can be apowerful meditation routinewhen youre sick.

Mantra meditation is repeating positive sayings out loud or in your mind.

Youll suppress those negative thoughts and earn that much-needed relaxation.

For instance, instead of saying I will lose weight choose I will lose 10 pounds in 3 months.

You have the power to do it.

Instead, you probably want to lock yourself in a dark room and bury your head under a pillow.

Thats a viable option, but theres also something called mindful listening.

Its the chance to listen for sounds that can actually soothe you.

you’re able to do the same mindful listening exercise outside.

Be present in the moment and start listening to your environment.

Serenity is only one sound away.