Daily meditation practice
1) Meditate at the same time every day.
We all have an internal ‘body clock’ that can be programmed. By choosing to meditate at the same time every day, it becomes a regular routine and makes it much easier to stick to the appointment. The best times are 20 minutes after you wake up or an hour before you normally go to sleep. It is also best not to meditate immediately after eating, as your body naturally becomes tired after eating and that can detract from the clarity of the meditation and leave you in a dull, sleepy state.
2) Have a special place in your home for daily meditation.
Meditation is the greatest gift you can give yourself, it helps you de-stress, release physical and emotional tension, create clarity and perspective and keep you in touch with that still silence within. That’s why your meditation practice deserves a small corner somewhere in your home, specially equipped for meditation training with your favorite meditation cushion, stool or chair. This helps you honor your practice and show that you respect it enough to make room for it in your life.
3) Use a timer.
Make your daily meditation commitment to sit for at least 20 minutes a day. Setting the timer for 20 minutes while sitting will make you lose track of time and allow you to relax and enter a deep and peaceful meditation. It is also important not to go too far, but to get up quietly and take your meditative awareness with you when you get up. Don’t interrupt meditation if you’re having a hard time, and don’t take too much time if you’re enjoying it. This helps to make it a regular and normal routine.
4) Switch off.
Don’t forget to turn off phones and other devices, and also let anyone else in the house know that you should not be disturbed during meditation. This creates a sacred and tranquil space to practice meditation, a truly personal time for yourself that is so important. Remember that you are not just meditating for yourself, but instead you are taking ‘time out’ from your day to become clearer, calmer and wiser. This will benefit not only you, but your entire family and everyone else in your life.
5) Trust the process.
Written by Chad Foreman
Chad Foreman is the founder of The Way of Meditation and has been teaching meditation since 2003, determined to bring authentic meditation practices into the lives of millions of people in the modern world. Chad is a former Buddhist monk who lived in a retreat hut for six years and studied and practiced meditation full-time. He now has over twenty years of experience teaching meditation. Chad likes regularly
Meditation retreats on the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Online meditation coachingprovides three online programs – The 21 Day Meditation Challenge to gradually guide people from the basic principles of mindfulness and relaxation to profound states of consciousness.
Breathwork to help manage stress and go deeper into meditation and
The bliss of inner fire This is a Buddhist tantric method to clear energy blockages and connect with the clear light of bliss. You can also get Chad’s free ebook now Insights on the go.