#MeditationMonday: 6 Tips for Meditating at Home

Happy #MeditationMonday, friends! I’ve been a bit off the radar the last few days, deeply immersed in big belly laughs, good memories, and incredible food with some of my oldest and dearest friends in Chennai. I wish I could put into words how much gratitude I feel for this trip to India — it has rejuvenated me in ways that I could never have predicted.

As my trip comes to an end, I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to hold on to the peaceful condition I’ve been fortunate to experience, and how I can bring that back with me when I return to the States. Part of that, I know, is by making sure that I maintain a consistent space for meditation in my own home.

WHERE you meditate can be just as critical as HOW you meditate when it comes to developing a consistent meditation practice. When I first started meditating, I would often meditate on my bed just as I woke up or right as I was getting ready for bed, only to curl back up under the covers and fall asleep or immediately reach for my phone (a terrible pre-bed ritual that I’ve only just begun to crack). It took me a long time to understand that, if I really wanted to be successful in my meditation, I needed to set aside a space in my home dedicated solely to my morning and evening meditations, one that is not already occupied by some other activity or habit, like sleeping or watching TV.

My meditation space is a chair in my living room; over the last couple of years, I have tried to establish a routine of waking up early, brushing my teeth, then going straight to that chair to meditate. Whether or not my meditation is good or bad, sitting only in that chair makes all the difference in getting into the zone to meditate. I can then carry the condition that I’ve created through meditation into the rest of my day.

Here are 6 tips for creating an environment in your home for meditation:

1. Set aside a chair dedicated to meditation. Avoid using this chair for anything else.

2. Put away all electronics, and keep your phone in a different room so you don’t reach for it.

3. Do NOT set an alarm for meditation. Sit for as long as you can and allow the meditation to flow organically.

4. Keep a diary or notebook close by so you can record how you feel before and after meditation.

5. Turn off any music or external noise that will prevent you from connecting internally.

6. Continue to sit in the chair with your eyes closed even if you find it hard to meditate. Sitting in the chair, even if you’re struggling to meditate, will help to establish the habit.

Got questions? Comment below! Happy Monday, friends!

With Love.,

Mamata