We know it can be a balancing act fitting your meditation in at this time of year. The good news is, there are so many ways to make it work! Staying on it will put you in such a good place for the new year. Begin 2025 calm, balanced and energised — ready for what lies ahead.
Our top tips for meditating over the holidays
1. Plan it!
Meditation happens when you plan it. And over the holidays when your schedule is more fluid, you need to be on it with your planning. Get that first meditation in early. And when you come out of the morning meditation, have a think about when you’re going to be able to close the eyes in the afternoon.
Set a reminder on your phone to give you a nudge. Let your family go on ahead of you and then hang back and meditate. Give the children something to watch while you sit for 20 minutes in the next room and meditate. Have someone else drive and then you can close your eyes and meditate en route. Find that moment.
2. Ten minutes is better than no minutes.
We always want to aim for 20 minutes twice a day — that’s what’s going to give you the optimal balance of deep rest vs activity. And sometimes it’s simply not possible.
If you don’t have the full 25 minutes needed to meditate and come out slowly, then do 10 minutes. Always make sure you still take 3 minutes to come out at the end. Ten minutes will be better than missing meditation completely.
3. Be flexible about the where and when.
Over the holidays you might not have the same regular routine to keep your meditation consistent. Remember it’s not necessary to meditate at the same time each day. You have a lot of flexibility over when and where you do it.
If you know you’re having a big lunch and a few afternoon drinks, you can do your second meditation late morning (keeping a minimum of 4 hours between meditations). Or if you’re eating late, remember you can meditate up to 8pm/8.15pm.
4. The ultimate jet lag buster.
Flying is tough on the body and even short-haul flights make for a tiring day — just getting on the plane is a huge logistical feat. The best way to counteract these effects is to meditate as much as is comfortable on the flight.
This might mean you’re meditating for longer, e.g. 30-40 minutes at a time. It might mean you’re meditating several times during the flight. If you’ve already meditated in the morning and then you’re flying during the day, add an extra meditation on the flight, or at the very least count that as your second meditation for the day.
5. You’re meditating for those around you.
Remember, you’re meditating for your loved ones as much as you are for yourself. Your calmness and stability will radiate to those around you — leading to a more balanced, peaceful time.
