How to meditate for beginners, even if you sometimes identify as a lazy person, like me!
I believe mastering our thoughts is the single most important thing we can do to improve our lives. Our thoughts create our beliefs, which form our habits and the paradigms we operate within, and the lens we see life through.
By practicing meditation, I learned to take control of my thoughts, giving me the ability to reprogram my minds with more supportive beliefs. I tried meditating on and off for years and never really “got it,” so I’m sharing what worked for me- The Lazy Person’s Guide To Meditation.
1- Don’t overthink it.
You don’t need a special app, headphones, or a perch on a mountain top at sunset to do the damn thing- though they are all wonderful additions when available.
Set a timer on your phone, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. When you notice your mind wandering, pull your focus back to your breath. That’s it! Even if you repeatedly have to refocus when meditating, it’s still working.
Redirecting your thoughts helps you master your mind, developing the resilience to overcome challenging situations, especially the ability to respond vs. reacting to life. If focusing on your breath isn’t your thing, try focusing on the color of the back of your eye lids, or a sound in the room like the hum of an air conditioner.
2- Lay Down.
This is the lazy girl’s approach to meditation and probably the biggest reason I’ve maintained a regular practice for 3 years. I began meditating as a new mom and let me tell you- laying down to meditate is an absolute TREAT.
Stretch out on a bed or mat and drift away. It feels absolutely luxurious, especially since it’s like a rest that’s productive. Some say that you don’t get as deep into meditation when lying down, but since laying down helped me start and maintain a regular practice, I’m all for it. I still lay down for most of my meditation sessions at home.
3- Start Small.
Begin with just five minutes per day, then work your way up to longer periods. I typically meditate for 11 minutes and 11 seconds if I’m sitting up and between 10-30 minutes if I’m laying down. Find what works for you and go for it!Â
4- Make It Fun.
Try a kundalini yoga workshop or a healing crystal sound bath (virtually for now!) Both have elements of meditation but they are fun, social activities that are sure to uplift and inspire. Enroll a friend or two and elevate your vibes together! I also love to meditate with my crystals, sometimes holding them in my hand, or placing them over my heart of third eye.
5- Experiment!
There’s no wrong way to do this thing! Try a guided meditation on Youtube or meditation apps. Listen to your breathing or turn on a noise machine. Try a visualization meditation where you imagine the life of your fondest dreams as though you’re living it now. Try a mantra meditation to commit your affirmations to beliefs. If you don’t like one type of meditation, try another!
Lately, I’ve been a big fan of binaural beats, which are tones created to help sync the left and right sides of your brain and create meditative brain waves more quickly! Be sure to give them a try and let me know how it goes!
Here are some of my favorite (free) meditation resources:
Quadible Integrity – I love this channel for binaural beats and meditation music. I listen almost daily and can often immediately notice an improvement in my mood or state after listening.
Dexter and Alessandrina – This is my favorite channel for guided meditations and let me tell you, I am extremely picky! Alessandrina does most of the guided meditations and her voice is positively ethereal. This Gratitude Meditation in particular is one of the best meditation sessions I’ve ever experienced.
Some fun facts about my meditation journey:
I started meditating in 2018 when one of my favorite speakers, Abraham Hicks said, “If you really want things to start showing up in your life, meditate.”
The idea is that by quieting our minds, we release our resistant thoughts. With resistance out of the way, we create an open channel for all that we desire to flow into our lives.
Well I started meditating and I swear to God, received an email from a publishing company with a cookbook offer. I’ve been a hard core believer ever since!
When writing my two cookbooks, 30 Minute Vegan Dinners and Vegan YUM, I meditated for at least 30 minutes every day before cooking and taking photos. I had to stay ALL THE WAY in the flow to complete such massive projects with short deadlines!
Even though I’ve manifested incredible things since beginning a meditation practice, the most fulfilling aspect is the emotional freedom and peace I feel on a daily basis.
Believe me, I’ve struggled with a lot over the years- disordered eating, alcoholism & drug addiction, depression, self-harm, and even a suicide attempt. I was uncomfortable in my own skin, and really being alive, for a good chunk of my life. Meditation has given me more freedom, joy, and self-love than anything else I’ve ever done.
Know anyone who would benefit from this easy Beginner’s Guide To Meditation? Please share it on social media! To save this guide for later, Pin the photo below!
Much love,
Megan
