3 Strategies to Build a Meditation Practice

A big part of what I do for a living is teach people how to create a home meditation practice. Meditation, for some, can feel like an isolating endeavor — sitting in your home, wondering if you’re doing it right, with a TV full of episodes of your favorite show tempting you to park on the couch. The main thing people struggle with is being consistent. If you want to practice, you will need a calming environment, a set time each day, and the same amount of time. If you can master these three things your meditation practice will flourish.

Consistent Environment

Imagine getting home, tired after a long day. You yearn to crawl under your bed covers, but you don’t have a bed. You have to go into your closet, take out a bed frame, read the IKEA instructions, assemble it, get the mattress on, throw the sheets on top, and only then can you pass out. That’s a lot of work for something you know you’re going to do every day.

Most of us do that sort of thing when it comes to creating a meditation space. We grab cushions from the bed or couch, fling a pile of clothes out of the way, flop down, and expect to get enlightened.

Even if you don’t have a lot of space you can still have a meditation area in your home. You can place a statue, a candle, or incense on a table or the floor to mark the area where you will sit. I recommend getting a meditation cushion. Having one visible is an easy reminder.

Consistent Schedule

Identify a consistent time each day. Some people prefer to meditate when they wake up, others right before bed. I wake up, shower, walk the dogs, sip some coffee, and sit. It’s become a part of my morning routine, just like brushing my teeth. It’s important to fit meditation into your regular schedule.

Making a conscious decision is vital so that you don’t tell yourself in the morning that you’ll do it later in the day, and then, in the evening, convince yourself that you have no time and should do it the next day. One can go months playing that game. The more consistent you are with your practice, the more natural it will become.

Consistent Amount of Time

Set a specific amount of time you will meditate each day. I recommend starting with a 10 minute…