When to Meditate

I'm having trouble meditating every day--as I've had in the past when I've tried to meditate on a daily basis. I find if I don't meditate fairly early in the day, I just don't do it. Doesn't seem like setting aside 20 minutes would be that hard, but it is. Because it means finding a time when there won't be any disruptions, or other things to do.

So I've been trying to figure out when's the best time to meditate. Turning to the web, I found three related posts--one from '09, '07 and '93. The '93 post, written by Jeffrey Chance, was a short primer on meditation ("Meditation FAQ"). Meditating is supposed to get easier over time, and as he puts it, "over time, the number of random thoughts occurring diminishes". Not so for me thus far--I seem to have more thoughts.

According to Chance, "most people agree that early morning is the best time to meditate". But he, and the others who've written about meditation, point out that it can be done any time during the day. Early morning seems to work best because households usually are more peaceful, and daily obligations haven't yet kicked in. He also says it's best to meditate before, rather than after, a meal--but doesn't say why. Other tips: meditate at the same time every day in a quiet spot reserved for meditation, and with a straight spine.

That's another issue for me--I'm getting better at being able to sit cross-legged for 20 minutes, but often one leg goes to sleep, and/or my neck and/or back starts to hurt. Maybe that also will get better over time.

So I guess I'll try meditating first thing in the morning. I'm usually up around 5am...or 5:30...OK, 6 if I forget to set the alarm...but my routine has been to drink coffee and read the papers (WSJ and WaPo). And then have breakfast. And then decide to meditate. Then there were the handful of days where I decided I was going to walk every day at 6;30 (or 7) am...

So if I can discipline myself enough to meditate right after I get up (will violate the rule of meditating in a separate place, because my husband will be watching TV near by normal yoga/meditation spot), then I could still walk before it gets too hot. Unless I decide not to.

All this self-discipline--hard for me to stick with it. As evidenced by my blog. But see, I'm starting to write on a daily basis--right after lunch seems to be a good time.

Not to mention my vocal exercises, which I'm trying to do each day.

It's so much easier when I had a job and had built in obligations. But they often end up being artificial--one feels like one's accomplishing something when the calendar is full, but that may or may not be the case. Now I have to create my own meaning and purpose. And find my voice.