Most of us have heard about the many benefits of having a daily meditation practice.  From decreased stress and anxiety to improved sleep and mood, we know meditation is good for us.  The problem comes in when we try to fit it into our hectic lives.  Many people say they simply just don’t have time to meditate every day.

I would argue that you have to make time, otherwise the quality of your life, and the lives of those with whom you interact with daily, will suffer.  While it can feel like there is never enough time for meditation, there are actually many ways in which you can sneak a little meditation into your daily life without much interference with your current schedule.

Here are a few tips for squeezing meditation into your day:

1. Wake up 5-10 mins earlier and sit right back down. – Not a lot of time, gets it done before the craziness of the day begins, center and focus for your day.
2. During your lunch break. – While your food is heating up, right after you finish eating, take just a few minutes if only to breathe.
3. Right after work. – In the car/garage before going in the house or as soon as you walk in the house if no one else is there to distract or derail you.
4. Schedule it. – Just like any other appointment or meeting!
5. Take one minute, 5 or 10 times a day.
• Right when you wake up
• When you park your car at work (before going in)
• Between meetings
• Before or after lunch
• Before dinner
• Before bed
• Anytime you feel stressed 

Don’t make it harder than it has to be.  A few simple minutes of quiet goes a long way on your meditation journey.  Don’t wait for perfect conditions – make time today for a few minutes of meditation.