How can I meditate when I don't have any time?
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Think you can't meditate because you don't have the time? Think again! Here's some helpful perspective to get you unstuck, from WITHIN teacher Devon Pipars.
Q: I know meditation is good for me, but I don’t have enough time to do it!
A: A very common misconception about meditation is that you need to do it twice a day for twenty minutes to benefit from it. However, the amount of time isn’t as important as taking a few minutes daily. Think consistency over quantity.
In as little as 7-10 total minutes per day, you'll begin to see the positive effects of meditation effortlessly seeping into your everyday life.
You'll notice an increased sense of spaciousness, calm, and stability. And everyone, regardless of how busy they may be, can find just 7-10 min each day. Even if it’s just while sitting on BART, or MUNI, or in a Lyft.
Try just sitting up in bed when you wake up, and use the first 5 minutes of consciousness as your meditation. Or, 5 minutes before going to sleep.
If you’re prone to forgetting, link it to a daily activity, like sitting down to meditate right after brushing your teeth.
Maybe you’ll discover that it’s actually not a lack of time, but lack of discipline, that’s getting in the way of your daily practice. I can relate! Although I have yoga videos at home, I never put them on, so to help myself follow through I joined a yoga studio.
Having a specific time when I'm signed up to show up, with other people, really helps me make sure I do it.
To help support your daily meditation practice, WITHIN has drop-in classes all day long: before work in the morning, during lunch hour, afternoons and evenings. Let our guided meditation be the discipline for you - all you have to do is show up!
Devon teaches our afternoon & evening classes on Tuesdays, and midday on Wednesdays. She has a passion for helping students deepen their practice, whether you're just starting out or have years of experience. Join her for a class this week, or take her #MindfulStart Course!