Written By Jasmine
Webmistress The Majickal Garden
Meditate Regularly
At the mention of meditation some people might bring to mind a vision of monks spending the day in austere meditation in a trance like state. For most this is not the case to be able to reap the benefits of a regular practice. A few minutes a day is all that is required however the key is to try for a consistent routine and preferably at the same time of day.
Manage Your Time
Most people’s lives are a checkerboard of schedules, appointments and commitments. What can be helpful is to view it as a commitment to you for the health of your mind, body and soul. Your time spent in meditation is entirely for you alone and everyone deserves to look forward to at least a few minutes spent on you each day.
Making an effort to organize your time a bit more efficiently can benefit in other ways. By reducing pressures more time can be found towards leisure time. The result is finding yourself a bit more relaxed; this will help for concentration on meditation and a calmer you at the end of your time spent with it.
Saving Time
It does not have to be as difficult as it might sound. Begin with a list of all the things you do on a regular basis, including work and travel time, kids to school or scheduled activities, or you’re shopping day. Include your average bedtime and block time out for that.
Next, make a list of things you normally do but might miss out on sometimes. This could include gardening, filing paperwork, etc. Apportion enough time for these tasks. You may want to allow 2 to 3 hours at a certain time each week as they may vary as to what you might do in this time and not allow them to get out of hand. Take a look at both lists. You might be pleased to find you have more time than you might have thought.
Now, to see where the rest of your time is being spent. Perhaps more time is spent watching TV than you might have realized or doing things for others that they might do for themselves with little problem. If you find there is a blank spaces that you can’t justify it might help to keep a diary of your activities for a week. It could take longer for some things than was projected in your lists. This could help locate those openings and allow them to be closed up. In the process you will be allocating enough time for a particular chore ahead of time and will allow you to be more relaxed in your activity.
Make Priorities and Delegate
Now make a list of all the things you mean to get to but just have not found the time for like a phone call to a friend/relative, fixing a loose or squeaky hinge or the like. Include everything no matter how small. Next, prioritize by numbering each one in order of importance. Go back to your timetable and assign a period of time to deal with these tasks. Remember to check them off as you do them and add new things. (Renumber when necessary.)
Now it’s time to see where your meditation will fit in. If work is bogging you down then perhaps you could make a list for that as well and prioritize it.
If after this you find you’re still overloaded then it might be a good time to take pressure off of yourself and delegate to others! Ask for help and motivate others into action. Sometimes it is required to be firm, especially at first. Children can learn to feel pride in a job they have done well and contributed to the family in the process.
By changing old habits with refreshed ones you can stay on top of things easier and see how much time can be saved.
*Dealing with mail on a daily basis by disposing of junk at the time. If possible, answer letters on that day.
*Control the amount of time spent on the phone where a shorter conversation would work just as well.
*Limit TV watching by choosing your programs and turning the box off when it is over.
*Be aware of others unloading jobs on you that they could just as easily do themselves.
This is a great start for finding meditation time for you and fine tuning your days in general for a less stressful life. There are other things you could try but for now…it’s a good start for your plans to begin meditating and enjoying the benefits that a regular practice will bring.
