7 Ways to Find the Time to Meditate
If being busy could be measured in money, we’d all be very, very rich. It seems like no matter how much you get done in a day, there is always more to do and something (or somebody) who needs your attention. Though it’s nice to be needed, you also need to take some time for yourself. Meditation provides that, and much more: mediation has been proven to clear your head, help you focus, reduce stress and more.
So how do you combine your never-a-dull-moment schedule with a few minutes for mindfulness? Here are seven ways to find the time to meditate.
1. Sit Down As The Sun Comes Up
There’s nothing quite as peaceful as starting your day with a few minutes of meditation. Mornings are the one time when you are most likely to be uninterrupted. As an added bonus, it will help center you for the rest of your day.
2. Set an Appointment
There are lots of reasons why mornings (or evenings) may not work for you. If that’s the case, look at your calendar and find a time that does, and enter it just like any other important meeting. The only way to be sure that you’ll stick to your meditation plan is to set a date with yourself, write it down on your calendar, and keep it.
3. Pick A Spot And Stick To It
If it’s possible, have a set spot to meditate in. Not only will it make it easier to get into the right mindset but will also remind you of your ‘appointment.’
4. Link Meditation to Something Else In Your Day
Just as you associate brushing your teeth after meals, link your meditation practice to something else. Maybe you want to meditate just before or after your shower after you press the ‘brew’ button on your coffee maker, or after your workout. By linking it to an action that is already a habit, you make it more likely you will do it.
5. Go Easy on Yourself
If you walk away from meditation thinking that you’ve done a poor job of it, you are going to stop enjoying it. Every time you sit down to meditate you are doing yourself some good. At the same time, remember that you’ll have more time on some days than others. It doesn’t have to be the same every day.
6. Be Grateful For the Good it Does
When you finish meditating, take a minute to reflect on how you feel. Whether it’s that you’re less anxious, more clearheaded, more relaxed, the more you note the benefits you get, the more likely you are to make time tomorrow.
7. Share Your Meditation Journey
Similar to diet and exercise, you are more likely to meditate when you are accountable for it. Invite others to start meditating, then check in with each other to see how it’s going.
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