Many people erroneously believe that the reason they can’t get into meditating is that they are not able to sit still long enough. I can understand that, and it is especially difficult if you are a novice to the practice. However, there are many ways to meditate and some of them even require movement. Using your breathing, while slowly focusing on a task you find enjoyable, can quickly put you in a reflective state. Keep in mind that the key to a successful meditative practice is to relax. Relaxation brings with it a way to clear our minds of the daily clutter so that we can emerge calmer and more intuitively aware. I’ve put together a list you may find helpful.
COOKING If you enjoy spending time creating culinary masterpieces in your kitchen, then the act of slicing, dicing and cooking a meal, will move you to a tranquil state of bliss.
HOBBIES This is a great way to spend in alternative mindfulness. We have hobbies in the first place because we enjoy them. The experience is already a positive one.
WALKING Take along the family pet, some music and earbuds, or nothing at all, but this exercise can be a real motivator for action when we need to set the tone or to decompress.
COLORING This one is a favorite of mine. I own several mandala coloring books and have been alternatively meditating this way for years. The act of connecting color to image opens us to insight and calm.
BINGE WATCHING That’s right: Tuning into a favorite television show and binge-watching the episodes can put us into a state of intensity that offers a way to refresh ourselves. It’s more mindless than mindful but peaceful, just the same.
Though the list might seem unconventional, choose one and dedicate the same time every day to it. Feel free to add to this list. The point is to enjoy an action in repetition and consistency so that you open yourself to meditating daily.
Originally appeared in Thrive Global and Huffington Post 2018