Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, and for good reason. Not only does it have a profound impact on mental and emotional well-being, but it has also been shown to improve physical health. Despite the benefits, many people struggle to develop a consistent meditation practice. It’s easy to start strong and then quickly lose motivation, get distracted, or struggle to find the time. However, with some guidance and commitment, it is possible to develop a meditation practice that works for you and reaps the benefits of this ancient practice.
The key to developing a consistent meditation practice is to start small and build momentum over time. It’s important to approach meditation with a beginner’s mind, letting go of expectations and simply being present with the experience. Meditation can take many forms, from sitting quietly to moving through a yoga flow to focusing on the breath. The important thing is to find a form of meditation that resonates with you and that you can commit to practicing regularly.
It’s also helpful to create a dedicated space for meditation, whether it’s a corner of your bedroom or a specific spot in your living room. Having a designated space can help you to get into the right mindset and signal to your brain that it’s time to meditate. You can also use props like cushions, blankets, or candles to help create a calming atmosphere.
Another key to developing a consistent meditation practice is to set achievable goals. Start with a goal of meditating for just a few minutes a day, and gradually increase the duration over time. Consistency is more important than duration, so focus on finding a rhythm that works for you and sticking to it.
In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of meditation, different forms of meditation, and tips for developing a consistent practice. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, there’s always room to deepen your practice and experience the transformative power of meditation.
1. Link Meditation to a Habitual Activity
Activities such as showering, brushing teeth, or driving home from work are deeply ingrained habits that don’t require effort or forethought. They are known as instrumental tasks. By linking your meditation to one of these tasks, the effort needed to initiate the meditation session is significantly reduced.
Davidji, the author of Secrets of Meditation, offers the acronyms RPM (rise, pee, and meditate) and RAW (right after work) as guidelines for linking meditations to habits. Not only are these acronyms catchy, but they can also reduce the resistance most people experience when trying to create a new habit. Linking your meditation session to an automatic activity, one that doesn’t require the use of willpower, increases the probability that your new habit will take root.
2. Start Small
Meditate for short periods of time, in which you experience no resistance. For instance, you might start with just 10 minutes. It should be easily attainable and create absolutely no pushback from your mind. Establishing the habit of meditation is much more important than increasing the length of time spent in meditation. Once your initial time commitment becomes habitual, you can then begin to lengthen your meditation practice.
3. Experiment with Guided Meditations
New meditators are often not sure what to do during meditation. Guided meditations are an excellent way to settle into this practice. Guided meditations will lead you through breathing techniques, relaxation, and visualization, mantra, or mindfulness-based practices. This takes all the guesswork out of your meditation and can help you free your mind and surrender to the experience.
4. Attend a Group Meditation
Meditation is an individual activity. That doesn’t mean group meditations can’t be beneficial. Meditating with others can reinforce your personal commitment to the practice and provide access to a huge reservoir of knowledge. Groups can create a tangible energy that can inspire even the most reluctant meditator. Studies show that meditating in groups can increase peace in your community.
5. Use Our App
Who says you have to turn off your smartphone during meditation? While you should refrain from checking emails and texts or taking calls, there are a variety of apps that can actually enhance your meditation. Inside our daily meditation app, you’ll find a comprehensive well-being library, including nearly 500 of our very best meditations, self-care tools, tips, and practices for total well-being based on our unique mind-body-spirit approach. With an extensive library of knowledge and new meditations posted daily, we’ve designed this app to help you become the best you possible.
6. Practice Pranayama
Just as you warm up your muscles before a workout, pranayama helps to prepare your mind for meditation. Breathing mindfully and consciously relaxes the body, calms the mind, and even slows the aging process. It has been proven to fire up the autonomic nervous system, ushering both mind and body into a state of relaxation. This state of relaxation is helpful if you want to experience the benefits of meditation.
7. Schedule Your Meditation
If meditation is not on your schedule, it’s easier to put other activities and tasks ahead of this important practice. Sometimes just seeing the word “meditation” penciled onto your calendar can be enough of an incentive to show up for this daily dose of peace.
In an accomplishment-oriented culture, schedules can fill up to the point that there is little time left for the activities and pursuits that really matter. By scheduling meditation, you make sure that nothing will interfere with your commitment to yourself. If possible, schedule meditation at the same time each day. Your body and mind will eventually begin to relax as that time draws near.
8. Create a Meditation Space
Carve out a little corner of your room to use exclusively for meditation. In that corner, place your meditation seat of choice such as bolsters, blankets, or any props that you need to support yourself. Then fill your space with objects that inspire you such as photos, soft lighting, candles, incense, a diffuser, sacred books, or anything else that speaks to your soul. Use this space only for meditation. It will absorb the vibrations of calmness. Eventually, just entering your sacred space will initiate the relaxation response.
By practicing the above techniques, you will see your meditation practice move from, “I know I should,” to “I always do.” Once you achieve a consistent meditation practice, your level of health, peace, and happiness will expand.
