You don't have to be a Buddhist monk to get the benefits of regular meditation. However you have to get started meditating so that you can personally experience greater peace of mind and other health benefits.

Here are some easy steps to develop your meditation routine:


1. Get Started

Getting started with meditation is a bit like learning to swim. You can read books about swimming from cover to cover, but nothing beats getting in the water for yourself. 

Find or create a peaceful environment where you can sit quietly without being interrupted. Make sure that you dress in comfortable clothing and take off all electronic devices that can beep, vibrate or can otherwise interrupt the quiet surroundings. Then be still and observe your thoughts as you begin to meditate.


2. Manage Your Expectations

Nirvana is unlikely to be achieved upon your first attempts at meditation.

In fact you may be disappointed by how much your mind is filled with a thousand random thoughts and how much your squirm around in your seat.

In the fast pace of modern life, sitting still and being quiet most likely will not come naturally to you. Instead of struggling to "quiet" your mind become an observer of your own thoughts. In order to prevent becoming bored keep your early meditation sessions under ten minutes. As your patience grows you can lengthen your meditation sessions.


3. Get Natural

Find a spot where you can be in contact with nature - even if it is near to the only window in your apartment. If you are fortunate enough to easily get access to the ocean or chirping birds in the morning, that is a wonderful environment to regularly practice your meditation routine.

Remember that there are many ambience sound machines that can soothingly mimic the sound of nature - so that you experience the
peaceful calm of natural sounds on demand. Audio recordings of the ocean waves, rain, birds or dolphin songs are quite popular choices.


4. Let The Music Soothe Your Senses

Play soothing or rhythmic music as a calming background to your meditation session. Your choice of music should be geared towards
slowly releasing your feelings of tension, fatigue or negativity.


5. Stay In The Moment

Meditation is more about being rather than doing.

The real power of meditation lies in the opportunity to slow down and deliberately observe your breathe, your thoughts and your
emotions in a non-judgmental, loving manner.

Pay attention to every aspect of your quiet observations from the feel of your clothes, to the texture of the floor as you allow
yourself to become fully alive and tuned into the present. The use of simple mantras can help you to let go of incoming thoughts that are distracting.


6. Be Consistent

Make regular meditation sessions a part of your daily routine. The very act of committing to carve out this quiet time sends an inner message that the real you is being valued and appreciated. As you regularly meditate, you will become more skillful in bringing your mind gently back to focusing on the present.


7. Be Aware Of The Fruits

Regular meditation can develop your powers of concentration and intuition. You may also experience a greater sense of inner peace
and the ability to remain calm in the face of rising external confusion and turmoil.

Pay attention when these fruits from your mediation start to appear in your life. As you start to personally enjoy the benefits of meditation, you will naturally feel more encouraged to stick with the daily practice and will also be willing to lengthen these sessions.