A yoga teacher somewhere will throw a block at me for this, but I can’t do guided meditations.

I’ve tried meditation apps, but the sweet British guy’s voice always interrupted my focus.

I’ve tried rolling out of bed to meditate  first thing in the morning, but I almost always fell asleep.

I’ve tried all the tips and tricks wellness gurus suggest, but they only distracted me more.

“You only learn from experience, so as much as someone can tell you things, you have to go out there and make your own mistakes in order to learn.” Emma Watson

For some reason, I had this idea that I needed to use the fancy techniques that are available to us today to get me to meditate.

Every day there is a new sponsored ad on Instagram, or other media platform, telling us about the numerous benefits of meditation. It’s intriguing to want to try it.

Who doesn’t want to:

  • Reduce anxiety and stress
  • Improve mindfulness
  • Improve focus
  • Increase memory retention
  • Improve decision-making
  • Make yourself healthier
  • Make yourself happier!
  • Just to name a few benefits.

What I found to be the most effective meditation practice for me, was drilling down to its most basic form, to just breathe.

Which is ironic as meditation should be the most simplistic things we do. How did I miss this?

So I failed forward and let go of what thought it was supposed to be, and just did “my meditation.”

Here are some quick truths about meditating.

  • Let go of the expectation of what it should be. The truth is, it can and will, look different from time to time.
  • You don’t have to do it sitting in silence. Yoga or other moving meditations can be just as effective. If a certain activity consumes your mind entirely and at the end, you emerge with a clear head and a sense of quiet and peace, that’s meditation as well.
  • But Sitting in silence is awesome.
  • It doesn’t have to take long. Start small and work your way up. Even 1 min of quiet can be beneficial.
  • You don’t need an app or meditation pillow. But if they help you, game on. Ultimately, you just need you.
  • It will take practice, and that’s ok

How I found the easiest way to meditate

1. Wake up early (insert eye roll)

  • Excuses will always roll in. By prioritizing it early in your day, you ensure this amazing time, just with yourself, to receive the many benefits that meditation can do for you.
  • Tip for waking up early, download the Sleep Cycle app. This app tracks your sleep during the night and wakes you up (within a time range you set) when you are at your lightest sleep. This makes it so much easier to take the first step out of bed rather than hitting snooze.

2. Sip on tea or coffee and stretch

  • For a few minutes, before I jump into meditating, I stretch or do a few Sun A’s to wake up my physical body. I resist looking at my phone or other distractions. I take the time to tune in to me and where I’m at that day.
  • Tip for coffee drinkers – set a timer on your coffee machine the night before to wake up to a fresh pot of coffee. The simple things make all the difference.

3. Find a space in your home that you can be relaxed in.

  • For me, it is often on the floor of my living room or facing a window. I find that sitting on the floor is best to help keep my physical body alert.

4. Set a timer or play a calming playlist

  • Use your phone, watch, or a set playlist, whatever works so that when your time is up, something else will tell you when you’re done.
  • Start small with 5 min. Work your way up to whatever time allows you to do. Any amount of time is better than nothing.
  • Before doing this crucial step, I found my mind wandered off questioning if I had hit my 10-minute timeframe yet. Thus, distracting me from meditating.
  • Tip: The Spotify playlist “Yoga & Meditation” is awesome.

5. Sit comfortably, rest your palms on your knees, close your eyes and just breathe

  • Take the first few breaths to drop in and settle into the rise and fall of your breath.
  • If you need more grounding in your life, face your palms down. If you are open to receiving something in your life, face your palms up.

6. Focus on something to keep yourself present

  • Listen or count your inhales and exhales
  • Repeat a mantra or phrase to each inhale and/or exhale
  • Repeat affirmation
  • Incorporate mala beads

7. Accept that your mind will wander

  • It will happen, especially at first, and that is ok! It’s the act of noticing when it does and coming back to your focus that keeps you present.
  • Meditation teaches you to do this even when you’re not seated in silence. As humans, our minds wander all the time when we should be focused on something else. Notice and acknowledge when this happens, and bring it back in.

8. Commit to consistency

  • As like many things, consistency will give you the results we all desire. Again, anything is better than nothing. Schedule and prioritize.

That’s it my friends.

Try your own method and see what sticks for you. I know many people who love meditation apps or a guided meditation via a podcast. They just don’t work for me.

My best advice, literally do not over think it.

Just like in yoga, what one person is doing next to you, doesn’t mean you have to do it the same.

Just breathe.