BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As 2018 draws to a close, more and more people are beginning to develop their New Year's resolutions for 2019. While many look forward to a fresh start and the opportunity to pursue new goals, it begs the question, "What happened to last year's resolution?"
Year after year, saving money and becoming more financially secure ends up near the top of the list of popular resolutions. Losing weight and becoming more physically fit is constantly in competition with financial goals, typically netting approximately a third or more of all resolutions made.
The resolution to take better care of one's health through diet and exercise would explain the annual explosion in gym attendance. Unfortunately, however, many lose their resolve and stop showing up by February.
Self-care, quality of life, and an overall improved sense of wellbeing are, as in years past, destined to be a hot resolution theme for 2019. But this year, some people may opt to pass on that pricey gym membership.
One explanation concerns the large number of apps and channels on platforms like YouTube. These offer tons of fitness content cheap or free. Another is the shift toward more introspective ways to improve oneself, such as through meditation or mindfulness.
At least, this is how Silent Mind, Amazon's #1 seller of authentic Tibetan singing bowls, sees it. The small, family-run business has seen a steady sales increase that cannot be explained solely by the holiday gift-giving season. Surveyed customers are often purchasing bowls for themselves in the hopes of beginning their own meditation and mindfulness practices.
Outside surveys indicate that younger generations are more likely to bother making a New Year's resolution. In the United States, for instance, 91% of individuals ages 25-34 make resolutions, while only 36% of those over age 55 do the same. At the same time, that 25-34 age group is increasingly turning to meditation as a way to enrich their lives and encourage balance.
This may be a very wise strategy. That 25-34 age group, collectively known as Millennials, experience more stress than prior generations did at that age. Meditation and mindfulness are known to be effective ways to reduce stress, which can, in turn, lead to healthier eating habits. In short, Millennials are seeking additional, if not indirect, ways to meet their wellness and weight loss goals.
Not to mention, beginning a meditation practice is easier and cheaper than many other self-improvement methods. In many cases, the only expense - aside from small increments of free time - is the addition of a meditation tool, such as a singing bowl. As one Silent Mind customer explains, "When I'm playing the singing bowl, I don't feel as though I'm forcing myself to spend this time being mindful, like it's another chore on my list…it automatically transports me into the present moment."
Is meditation is a 2019 resolution everyone can stick to? That remains to be seen, given that many are kept motivated only by instant results. Yet perhaps in the end, that's the very reason singing bowls are increasing in popularity; the immediate sense that one is rooted in the present moment can make these wellness practices easier to stick with.
For more information on meditation, mindfulness, and singing bowls, visit silentmindsingingbowls.com.
SOURCE Silent Mind
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