When starting out in the world of meditation, one of the biggest problems I came across was actually forming the habit of sitting down and meditating. My typical habit was to practice religiously for a couple of days and then something would come up, and I would miss a day, and then another, and then another.
It’s frustrating how easy it is to fall into the habit of not doing something, despite it being proven that it’s so beneficial to your wellbeing. As Dan Harris, writer of Meditation of Fidgety Sceptics puts it;
“It’s not about meditating itself; it’s about sitting down and actually doing the damn thing!”
Never truer words have been spoken. Today, we’re going to go through a couple of pointers you can use to build up that mediation habit, so you can find it easier to meditate day in, day out, and start enjoying the benefits like you should be.
Start of the Day
The most beneficial time of day to meditate is typically regarded to be the first moments when you wake up. Not only does meditate put you in the right mindset to start enjoying the day ahead properly, but it’s also great because you can basically get it done and out the way.
Of course, we’re not trying to rush the practice. However, getting into the habit of doing it as the first thing you do when you wake up is a great way to build a habit because there’s nothing stopping you.
Anytime of Day
While you may already be in the habit of waking up and rushing out the door to get to work, that doesn’t mean that you can’t meditate any time of the day. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you simply meditate whenever you have time.
This means whenever you get on the bus to or from work, maybe sat in your car in the car park, on the toilet or even just a couple of minutes sat at your desk. Meditating even just for five minutes is so much more beneficial than not meditating at all to squeeze in those sessions whenever you can.
Swapping Social Media Time
How often do you think you spend on social media? Whereas most people predict themselves to be there around two hours a day, the national average for the UK is actually closer to six hours a day, and there’s a lot you can do in six hours.
Instead of browsing your social media feeds for hours a day, try turning that time into something productive, like meditating.
Focus on What You’re Doing
This might sound like a weird question but how often do you actually focus on what you’re doing. For example, if you’re driving down a road that you always drive down, how often are you still focused on the act, sights and sounds of actually driving, or are you away in your own head?
It’s a very meditative act to be focused on what you’re doing at all times and can help you to learn how to stay present. For example, even when you’re simply walking up the stairs, feel every step beneath your feet and check in with all your senses. In theory, you’re only meditating for several seconds, but focusing on everything you’re doing will add up to hours of practice throughout the day.
Set Reminders
Smartphones are great things to have and use but only if they don’t consume your life and you use them as a tool like they are meant to be used. Setting reminders on your phone to meditate can be a great way to remind yourself to meditate throughout the day while forming a habit.
What’s more, even if you don’t feel like you have time to meditate, you can simply set a reminder to remind yourself to be mindful throughout the day. Personally, I have a little notification pop up every hour or so which simply says breath, in which I’ll close my eyes, take a deep breathe and return to what I was doing before.
