It sounds so obvious. In fact, you’d think it would go without saying. But training the mind, meditating, being mindful, or whatever else we choose to call it only works if we actively engage with it. More than that, it only works if we practice it regularly, preferably on a daily basis with a considered, gentle discipline.
The obvious comparison is training the body, perhaps to get fit or to lose some weight. It’s not enough to have the membership card of the gym in our bag or the shiny new sneakers at home, hoping we might get fit by osmosis. We need to actually turn up for the event, to engage in physical exercise on a regular basis to experience the benefits. The same is true of the mind.
Here are 10 top tips for making sure you develop a consistent practice and stay committed to maintaining a healthy mind:
1) Meditate first thing in the morning if you can. It will ensure it gets done, gets rid of any grogginess from your sleep and is a great way to start the day. It will also mean you are more likely to be mindful throughout the day.
2) If you choose to do it at another time of day, prioritize it. This means putting it in the diary and committing to it in the same way you would to any other kind of meeting. Whether it is 10 minutes or considerably longer, nothing is more important than the health of your mind.
3) Think “same time, same place.” When you are looking to develop a new practice, activity or habit, this simple motto will dramatically increase the likelihood of you doing it. Try to create a conducive environment in which you can immediately relax into and make it part of your daily routine.
4) Some people find it useful to “attach” their meditation to another daily activity to strengthen the habit. For example, think “tea and then meditation,” or perhaps “shower and then meditation.” By doing this, we integrate the practice into a well-established routine that already exists…
Read More: Andy Puddicombe, huffingtonpost.com
