It may be counterintuitive but if you meditate regularly, your life will be less busy. Yes, I know it sounds like a joke or a philosophical paradox, but it is real. Especially if you are a busy person and think that you don’t have an inch of room in your day to squeeze in meditation, then it’s exactly you who needs to give it a go and see for yourself the magic. Here I will share with you some practical tips to start you off.

Morning Session

If you are a busy person, meditating first thing in the morning is possibly the best advice I can give you. If you leave it to the evening or some other time during the day, chances are you will never actually meditate. During the day your commitments will take over and you are likely to just procrastinate endlessly. I highly recommend you to take a shower (ideally cold) to ensure you are fully awake and do some gentle body movement. Then sit down and meditate. Preferably do not drink any tea or coffee, just water; you can add salt and lemon to give you a boost of energy. You can start with few minutes per day, even just 10/15 minutes will do the trick at the beginning. As you feel the benefits of your daily practice you will naturally want to extend your morning meditation session to half an hour or an hour.

Walking Meditation

During the day you will have to walk at some point, so why not to take advantage of this time to practice meditation? Walking meditation is about becoming aware of your body as it moves. The best way to do this is to slow down. Yes, I know you are busy hence you are in a hurry, hence you walk fast. But trust me, by slowing down and paying attention to your body will help you stay in the present moment. By taking it easy, you send a message to that hyperactivity mind to slow down. And by doing that, you stimulate creativity and problem solving. You will find yourself naturally able to come up with solution and not overreact to challenging situation. That saves you lots of time and energy.

Coffee Break Meditation

Everyone needs a break, especially if you are having a long working day. Instead of chatting away and entertain in conventional conversation, just to “kill the time” and distract your mind, practice awareness. Just for few minutes, sit in silence and enjoy your coffee or tea (or any other drink). Sip slowly, taste it, feel the pleasure of absorbing in the body your favourite drink. In this way, you can really enjoy your drink and become aware of what you ingest in your body. You will naturally avoid harmful substances. And the real bonus is that you will avoid mind-wandering. So, take a break from your mind and enjoy your drink.

Eating Meditation

Many people use lunch time to either socialise or for business meetings. Or worse of all, eating food in front of a computer whilst typing or reading some work email. This is a detrimental habit: you will not enjoy your lunch and will not be very productive. At least once a week, as a starter, aim to eat on your own. Find a quite space where you will not be disturbed, switch off your telephone and eat your favourite food. Eat slowly and really taste the food with all your senses. By activating your other senses, the energy will immediately shift from your mind back to your body, giving you rest from your hyperactive mind.

Group Meditation And Retreats

Meditating in a group with like-minded people is certainly very helpful. It’s the best way to meet fellow meditators with whom exchange impressions, share obstacles, and find support Also it will boost your motivation and you become somehow accountable. What I suggest is to start by attending a weekly class; then try a full day of meditation once a month; then aim to take a full weekend every quarter totally dedicate to meditation in nature; finally, why not planning your holiday in a meditation retreat?

In conclusion, by meditating regularly you will live your life more fully and you will enjoy more whatever you do because you will BE there rather than wandering away, lost in your mind beaten helplessly by random thoughts. You will have more clarity and will be more productive and efficient. Start with just few minutes daily and see what happens. I have seen it with hundreds of people and it works. Meditation will change your life for the better.

By Chetna & Swaram, www.loveosho.com, Contributor of //LIVE SIMPLY//