MAKE MEDITATION WORK FOR YOU

01. Keep it simple

Don’t be overambitious and try a 30-minute meditation if you’ve never done it before. “If we struggle with perfectionism, it’s likely we will set ourselves unattainable goals when beginning meditation,” says counsellor Ruth Micallef. Instead, try short, guided practices. Headspace and Calm offer free trials, so you can see what works best.

02. Lock it in

“What helps me is to calendar my self-care plan. I get up a bit earlier and set aside five to ten minutes for Headspace and journaling,” says Cornell VerdejaWoodson. “For me, if it’s not calendared, then it doesn’t happen.”

03. Search out silence

“When you’re starting out, meditating in silence is recommended,” says Jordyn McCarthy from Basubu. “It limits distractions and helps you find your groove.” That can be challenging, so try meditating very early in the morning or just before bed, using a guide for help.

04. Use the breath as a guide

“If you find your mind drifting off to yesterday’s work day or tomorrow’s to-do list, simply acknowledge that your attention has wandered,” says McCarthy. “Try to bring yourself back to the movement of your breath in and out of your body.”

05. Incorporate everyday tasks

“Mindfulness is a form of meditation which is probably the simplest and easiest: just coming back to the breath, being aware of breathing,” says Pearl Howie. “I drop into this whenever I realise that I am not paying attention. If I’m out on a beautiful walk, but I realise I’m just worrying, I come back to my breath, or the scenery, or each step.”