For those who "don't have time" or find it difficult to get into a mindful state while doing meditation: try it while performing some sort of routine task (some

For those who "don't have time" or find it difficult to get into a mindful state while doing meditation: try it while performing some sort of routine task (something we do on 'autopilot'). During a drive or commute While you play a video game or sport When you're cleaning your house If you experience a side-thought like the clichéd, "did I leave the stove on?" answer it ("no, I surely didn't") or eliminate it ("I don't remember, but I'll find out when I get home") and move on to the next thought. Eventually you'll run out of these side-thoughts. Some people find it helpful to run through Maslow's Hierarchy as a guide for this mental checklist: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs) It might take a few tries, or maybe many, to run through this subconscious checklist of side-thoughts, but the goal is to run out of them. Then you're left to yourself, no side-thoughts to distract you. This, in itself, can be worrisome because many people aren't comfortable with what it feels like to "just be," so hack your discomfort by creating another checklist: how does this make me feel physically? Is this state of mind stressful to me? What would it feel like if it wasn't? How would it look if I were the kind of person who handled this particular stress easily? Point is, don't rush it. Give it several tries. You probably need more repetitions to consciously break down your own checklist of thoughts. Much of meditation's benefit (to myself) is in learning to handle decisions and worries as they happen, and removing them from my checklist of things to meditate over when I actually do take the time to meditate later in the day. Most things people worry over don't matter. Hopefully my lens helps someone.