One things that I found really helpful in establishing a regular meditation practice is to make a meditation a part of your daily routines. For me, I shower and brush my teeth together everyday, and have no place to rush off to after doing those things. So adding medititation to the end of that chain of routines fit naturally, and made it so I really couldn't forget (or "forget") to meditate.
If I couldn't do it at the time, at a minimum I was forced to engage with myself about why I wasn't doing it, and make an agreement with myself about when I would be doing it.
All posts tagged “schedule”
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Not sitting for a couple days every month or so
fredclaymeyer — 14 years ago — in What works for me
fredclaymeyer — 14 years ago — in What works for me
So, this may be bad advice, but I find that I personally sometimes really benefit from taking a couple days off of meditation every month or so.
I don't really plan to do it—it's more like I temporarily exhaust my discipline, which is easier for me to do than I'd like. And there will usually be a period of two days (not more than that) where I don't sit, and get lost in work or time-wasters instead.
I've found a couple of things consistently happen:
1. I start feeling the benefits of the practice quite strongly. I find this bizarre, but it's true. It's almost like the mind I'm cultivating needs a bit of a break from practice before it sinks in fully. The closest analogy I've thought of is that if you'd been training really hard for a marathon, your body might start to feel really good a couple of days after your last training session. I'm sure that analogy's terrible on a bunch of levels, but the experience itself has been pretty consistent for me with meditation.
2. Conversely, I start to get hit really hard with neuroses I don't usually face when I'm meditating regularly. After about two and a half days of not sitting, I'll start to "drift": I notice more and more trouble controlling my emotions (especially fear and irritation) and connecting with what I value and find beautiful in the world. It quickly gets quite terrifying, and I find it really helpful for reminding me just why I meditate.
I'd love to hear thoughts on this. I guess this isn't really advice, just something that I've noticed is helpful, and it's been consistent enough that I thought I'd share it.
I don't really plan to do it—it's more like I temporarily exhaust my discipline, which is easier for me to do than I'd like. And there will usually be a period of two days (not more than that) where I don't sit, and get lost in work or time-wasters instead.
I've found a couple of things consistently happen:
1. I start feeling the benefits of the practice quite strongly. I find this bizarre, but it's true. It's almost like the mind I'm cultivating needs a bit of a break from practice before it sinks in fully. The closest analogy I've thought of is that if you'd been training really hard for a marathon, your body might start to feel really good a couple of days after your last training session. I'm sure that analogy's terrible on a bunch of levels, but the experience itself has been pretty consistent for me with meditation.
2. Conversely, I start to get hit really hard with neuroses I don't usually face when I'm meditating regularly. After about two and a half days of not sitting, I'll start to "drift": I notice more and more trouble controlling my emotions (especially fear and irritation) and connecting with what I value and find beautiful in the world. It quickly gets quite terrifying, and I find it really helpful for reminding me just why I meditate.
I'd love to hear thoughts on this. I guess this isn't really advice, just something that I've noticed is helpful, and it's been consistent enough that I thought I'd share it.
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Question for April 7, 2013: Consistent Practice
Medivate — 14 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 14 years ago — in Question of the Week
What makes it difficult for you to meditate regularly?
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fredclaymeyer — 14 years ago — permalinkWell, busyness. And, more than that, I think a general sense of busyness that I carry around throughout the day?
There's also this feeling that I've trained myself to see meditation as something I "have" to do--even though when I actually sit down to do it it's one of the most pleasurable parts of my day.
Pretty weird...
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Question for April 28, 2013: Time of Day
Medivate — 14 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 14 years ago — in Question of the Week
Is there a time of the day that prefer to meditate? Why?
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davidbhayes — 13 years ago — permalinkI also like to sit early in the morning, though my reason's more prosaic. I like sitting early because that way I don't have to fight to find the time to do it through the rest of the day.
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Question for November 30, 2014: Time of Day
Medivate — 12 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 12 years ago — in Question of the Week
Is there a time of the day that prefer to meditate? Why?
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Elanden — 12 years ago — permalinkI wish I were the sort to be a morning-meditator (just like I wish I were a fan of morning runs), but the truth is I prefer these things at the end of the day. In the morning everything seems difficult and gloomy, and frankly these emotions would possibly taint my perception of meditation. I am more accepting and inquisitive at the end of the day, so I think it is during this time that I am both more available occupationally and spiritually to get something out of meditation, even if the efficiency is variable each time.▲
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Lullabyehaze — 12 years ago — permalinkMorning is often a good time for me-- on work days, in can fit into my morning routine, and this ensures that I don't forget to do it! At the same time, if I am too sleepy, this can be a problem, and I am clearer-headed later in the day. My issue is that I can't find a routine that works for me so that I can be consistent with it later in the day.
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Question for January 25, 2015: Consistent Practice
Medivate — 12 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 12 years ago — in Question of the Week
What makes it difficult for you to meditate regularly?
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davidbhayes — 12 years ago — permalinkIt's not something that necessary makes it difficult for me — I just keep going, because I'm quite committed — but I sometimes suffer from a "rote" — dry, just going through the motion, uninspired — period (days or weeks) of meditation. When those things come up, I find it useful to more intentionally seek out inspiring books, dharma talks, etc than I usually do. It doesn't always work, but it's the best way I've found to deal with it.
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Question for November 27, 2016: Time of Day
Medivate — 10 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 10 years ago — in Question of the Week
Is there a time of the day that prefer to meditate? Why?
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Question for January 22, 2017: Consistent Practice
Medivate — 10 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 10 years ago — in Question of the Week
What makes it difficult for you to meditate regularly?
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Question for October 14, 2018: Time of Day
Medivate — 8 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 8 years ago — in Question of the Week
Is there a time of the day that prefer to meditate? Why?
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Question for December 9, 2018: Consistent Practice
Medivate — 8 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 8 years ago — in Question of the Week
What makes it difficult for you to meditate regularly?
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Question for August 30, 2020: Time of Day
Medivate — 6 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 6 years ago — in Question of the Week
Is there a time of the day that prefer to meditate? Why?