Try downloading the insight Timer app. There are a lot of guided meditations that can help you learn how to do different kinds of meditation. Or go to a class. Meditation isn’t just shutting your eyes and waiting, you may need some guidance.
It’s normal to get bored or sleepy while trying to meditate, some of the best forms to avoid it is listening to music or being focus on our breathing. This way you get your mind busy and avoid to get bored
First, get into a basic indian sitting position and put your arms in a comfortable position where it will feel relaxed. You should just relax. Perhaps you can imagine a water flowing all through out your body in a serene calmness and then clear everything on your mind and just focus on observing that body of water. Don’t think of anything, clear it. If you do, you can just clear (erase it as if you’re esrasing in a blackboard) it again. Remember, as long as you don’t hear the "ping" that said meditation is finish, keep your eyes closed. Oh and do not move too much. Focusing on your breathing also helps (inhale for about 4 seconds and exhale,for also about 4 seconds, don’t count just breathe deeply. Counting is distracting). It is hard at first but you can do it. P.S. Don’t fall asleep.
How about trying some guided meditations on a topic that interests you? There are thousands of guided meditations on the Insight Timer app, I highly recommend it.
A teacher thought me some years ago that Mediation is called a “practice” for a reason. Mediations will vary day to day and minute to minute, the fact that you have observed that you are bored is mediation in action – you have observed something going on inside yourself…well done! The next step now is to practice non judgement and not labelling. By saying you are bored makes whatever you are feeling quite negative- try to observe what’s in your body that’s making you feel that way return your focus to the breath and know and trust that the feeling will pass. Very practically I suggest that until you are a bit further in your practice, guided meditations help.
You can use guided meditation like Headspace. Beside that put a part in your meditation, remind yourself why you are doing this to keep yourself motivated.
Just do 5 minutes. Keep this up until it feels "easy" or not enough then increase to 7 minutes, then 10 etc. It helped me to actually practice a method, so I do zazen, just sit, eyes open, feel the breath in the belly. 5 minutes of this is tough so if needs be do 3 minutes.
The best technique in this case is to just focus on your breathe. Count every in breath or out breathe…in the beginning it maybe difficult but soon you won’t even notice the time. If you want you can place your hand on your stomach to feel the flow of breathe as well.
You need to go step by step. Be proud of what you already did. Be kind and patient with yourself. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Practice even just 5mn each day and see how you feel. To help you, you can watch some videos of guiding meditation. I use the app “Headspace”, with short videos, you learn day after day how to meditate. Keep going and have faith in yourself 🙂
I can relate! I can’t meditate in silence because I either get bored or my thoughts take over, but I’ve been listening to short meditation clips that I’m interested in (3 minutes is all I need). If you need motivation, feel stressed, or want to practice self-confidence (whatever it is) there’s a guiding meditation for you. The more you practice, the better you get at it! 😊🙏
Answers reflect the personal experiences of Fabulous community members. They are not medical or professional advice — for guidance about your health, talk to a qualified professional.
