Meditation is not just an activity one does for fun; it is a practice that magnanimously transforms one’s life for the better. From mood regulation to preventing age-related brain structure deterioration, it offers numerous benefits. Even though it sounds like a habit worth having, it doesn’t always mean that one makes it a daily practice. Sometimes the bridge between the knowledge and its application has a considerably broader gap to fill. But fret not! We at SoulSensei, with our guides and their expertise, bring you easy but transformational tips to make daily meditation a routine practice.
Tips for Building a Daily Meditation Practice
Daily meditation practice can significantly influence our overall health. It helps relieve stress, change habits, feel grateful for the life we have, and improve focus, memory, happiness, self-control, metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and so much more. Most individuals will not experience its positive effects immediately, but making it a part of the routine will definitely lead to success. With a plethora of benefits such as these, it is only a smart choice to have a daily meditation routine. Let’s take a glimpse at the tips that can help you build a daily meditation practice.
1. Associate Meditation to Routine Habits
From the moment we wake up, we indulge in various activities, including showering, brushing our teeth, making the bed, having breakfast, etc. These deeply ingrained habits are all instrumental tasks that do not demand forethought. Associating daily meditation with these tasks not only reduces the effort required to initiate a meditation session but also increases the probability that it will become your new habit. Davidji, the author of the book called “Secrets of Meditation,” offers guidelines that connect meditation with habits. To make this association easier to understand, he uses acronyms like RPM (rise, pee, and meditate) and RAW (right after work). These acronyms are catchy and help reduce the resistance one would experience before building a new daily meditation routine.
2. Start Small With Only a Few Minutes of Meditation Each Day
Directly leaping into a 30-minute meditation session might not be helpful or encourage you to build a daily habit. In the first few sessions, you might not be quite mindful or relaxed. This is why you should start small, with meditation for just 10 minutes every day. Since they are shorter, you will not experience resistance and will be able to attain your goal easily. Remember, making meditation a daily habit is way more important than practising it for hours. Once daily meditation becomes a habit, you can start spending more time practising it.
3. Find the Right Time and Trigger
There is no “ideal time” to meditate. Your ideal time to meditate is whenever it is possible for you. Sometimes your meditation might be interrupted by work or an urgent task, causing frustration and demotivating you to continue. This is why, instead of picking an exact time of the day, you should try to meditate when it feels right. You can also pick a trigger, such as your first cup of coffee after arriving home from work or anything that you do regularly to meditate. Regardless of the time you choose, try being consistent with it, as it will help transition meditation into a routine habit.
4. Find a Peaceful Meditation Spot
Morning meditation is a blissful experience: the world is still, offering serenity to connect with your inner self. It is a precious moment of solitude before your busy day begins. While some might find a place in the park, on their balcony, or in any other soothing spot, the place you pick doesn’t really matter as long as you are not bothered for a few minutes. Additionally, you can create an exclusive space for daily meditation right in your home. This spot can have blankets and pillows to support you, as well as candles and sacred books that inspire you to meditate. Remember to keep this space exclusive for meditation, as it will absorb the vibrations of calmness and eventually make you feel relaxed from the moment you enter the space.
5. Try Your Hands on a Meditation Podcast or App
If you are new to meditation and don’t know how to start, turn to the experts. Pick up your phone (don’t start checking your emails already) and try your hands on apps that give you access to meditation-centric podcasts, calming sounds, breathing exercises, and guided meditation from experts. This eliminates the guesswork that first-timers go through and helps you be calm and surrender to the experience of daily meditation.
6. Meditate in Groups
It is believed that meditation is an individual activity, but that does not mean that meditating with a group of people will not benefit you. Instead, it can intensify your personal commitment while also allowing you to seek the vast knowledge of others. Group meditation often holds the power to inspire even those who are hesitant or unwilling to meditate.
7. Be Comfortable
Reading about meditation or skimming through their videos might have exposed you to several experts sitting in a lotus position which may not be physically comfortable for you. Thankfully, there is no such thing as a perfect meditation position. You can sit however you feel comfortable. You can use some pillows for support during meditation, sit on a chair, or sit on a bare floor; the choice is yours!
By putting these tips into action, you can easily build a daily meditation practice. Stay tuned to SoulSensei to discover the treasure of meditation techniques and lead the path going towards an awakened you.
Sources
- Healthline. (2020). Daily Meditation: 7 Ways to Make It a Habit. [online]
- Chopra. (2020). 8 Steps to Establish a Daily Meditation Practice. [online]
- zenhabits.net. (n.d.). How to Meditate Daily: zen habits. [online]