Start meditating in 7 easy steps

Are you ready to start meditating but don’t know how? Maybe you’ve tried a meditation or two, but your mind was just racing, and sitting still for 10 minutes felt like an eternity for you?!

I hear you! When I started meditating, it wasn’t love at first sight and definitely didn’t come easily to me. To be honest, it took a lot of dedication to get where I am now, and I still have a long journey ahead of me.

But if you are here, reading this right now, then because inside of you, you know a whole new way of experiencing life is awaiting you. And you are about to discover the infinite depth of your soul, which is so much more than your thoughts.

Starting a regular meditation practice can profoundly change your life and deepen your relationship with your soul. You will be able to quieten your mind to become fully present in the moment.

Why start meditating

Before diving into the 7 steps, let’s quickly cover why you might want to start meditating.

Meditation has become increasingly popular in the world, and more and more are seeking to start meditating. As demonstrated by ancient wisdom and more recent studies, it has many short- and long-term benefits for the mind, body, and soul.

Take stress, for example. The many societal expectations placed on us tend to create high-stress levels in our everyday life. We’re all subject to it to various extents: It’s unavoidable.

Meditating will lower your heart rate as well as the production of cortisol, or the “stress” hormone. A consistent meditation practice – even under 5 minutes a day, or 10 minutes twice a week – will do wonders for your mental health. It will help you sleep better, regulate your emotions, and become more present and self-aware in general.

But apart from the physical benefits, meditation can change your life on a much deeper level.

You will be able to connect with your higher self, your soul, spirit guides, and ancestors. Life is so much more than what we see, and meditation can be a powerful tool to uncover the universal wisdom within you.

Once you can detach from your thoughts and your logical mind, your soul’s gift can surface and help you live in tune with your dharma. Your purpose, the reason why you are having this human experience.

How to start meditating: 7 easy steps for beginners

Meditation can help you to live a fulfilled and meaningful life. Are you ready to start your meditation journey and unleash your full potential?

Step 1: Start small

In my opinion, this really needs to be emphasized. Rome wasn’t built in a day! 

It’s important to take it one step at a time in order to create consistency, let it be meditation or anything else. Patience is key, and it will pay off over time, I promise. Too often, I got discouraged by trying too hard and too fast. 

Even if it’s just a couple of minutes a day, or maybe 10 minutes twice a week, it’s a fantastic start! You can always expand it as you get more familiar with meditating. 

Listen to yourself and what feels beneficial to you.

Step 2: Choose your location 

The location you pick for your meditation practice will be a big factor in establishing routine and consistency. It will signal your body now it’s time to meditate.

Further, the location you choose should give you a sense of safety. The safer you feel, the more likely you are to distance yourself from your thoughts while connecting deeper to your soul.

So make sure to meditate in a peaceful and quiet place where you will be able to focus and go inwards.

Step 3: Set the atmosphere 

Similar to the location, the atmosphere you create before meditating will strongly contribute to your ability to engage with your practice. You can do this in a few different ways: by lighting a few candles, burning some incense (there are so many incredible different smells available!), or a little sage.

I absolutely love to meditate outside as it helps me connect deeper with nature. But if you are not living in a tropical country like me, or it’s freezing cold outside, inside also works totally fine. I recommend turning off all the white lights and replacing them with warm yellow lighting for a cozy atmosphere. You can also add some nice plants to bring nature to you.

Last but not least, if you’re not living alone, make sure to let any family members and roommates know that you’re dedicating the next XX minutes (how long is up to you) to mindfulness and meditation. 

Step 4: Find the right meditation pose for you

You can meditate in a few different ways; the pose of your choice is totally up to you. As a few examples, you could sit in a lotus, half-lotus, cross-legged, or kneeling meditation position. 

Whichever pose you choose, always remember: Comfort is queen!

For more inspiration, check out my entire blog post about all you need to know when choosing your meditation pose here. 

Step 5: Set a time limit

By now, you’ve picked a place, set the ideal atmosphere for you, and chosen your meditation position. Now, it’s time to start meditating! So, what do you do from here?

Decide how long you want to dedicate to meditating today. Be a little ambitious but also realistic: You don’t want to discourage yourself immediately. For example, if you’ve never meditated before and want to give it a shot, then a short 5 or 10-minute practice might be a good idea.

Whatever it is, embrace it! There is no right or wrong answer here. Keep in mind that it can also vary from one day to another. 

Once you set a time limit for your meditation practice, set a timer! You don’t want your mind wandering off all the time, wondering how much time past. I love using Insight Timer (more about it below) because it allows you to set a timer and also an interval timer, so you can get a cue when you’re halfway through your allocated time.

Step 6: Cultivate an open mind 

It might first sound counter-intuitive, but meditation offers the strongest benefits when we let go of expected goals or outcomes. Instead, try to enter your meditation practice with a curious mind by being open to whatever experience may (or may not!) occur.

Easier said than done, I know! But this is a mindset that I strongly encourage you to cultivate day after day, as it could significantly improve your quality of life. As human beings, it’s only natural to have expectations of how our life goes – so be kind to yourself whenever you spot one.

This is a lifelong journey for all of us as it literally involves re-wiring some parts of our brains. But with time, patience, and consistency, not only will you start noticing the positive effects on your meditation practice but also your responses to broader situations in life.

Step 7: Be kind and loving to yourself

I tapped into this already, but I can’t emphasize it enough: don’t push or judge yourself. While willingness and dedication will go a long way toward developing your meditation practice, you really don’t want to “force” anything.

Check-in with yourself: What are your reasons for meditating in the first place? Jot them down in your journal if that helps, and focus on these intentions rather than why you “should” be meditating. Remember, you’re practicing for yourself!

“It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Set realistic goals according to where you are. You can also add any ritual to your practice that will make you feel loved and cared for; for example, why not give yourself a big hug at the end of your meditation? Or give yourself a nice big smile.

The best way to start meditating: Guided meditations

When we first start meditating, we often get overwhelmed by racing thoughts and restlessness. This is normal! Many of us were never taught how to address those thoughts with compassion, so they tend to cling on. 

For this reason, I strongly recommend starting with guided meditations. I honestly love them, and to this day, I still use them sometimes. There’s such a wide variety of them available nowadays – you will never fall short of choices! Below are a few of my suggested platforms to begin with.

Find meditations on Youtube

A fountain of free, valuable, and diverse meditations: Youtube is a wonderful place to start. You can access mindfulness meditations focusing on breathing and other physical sensations; meditations for the inner child; hypnoses, sleep meditations; or mantra meditations – just to name but a few! 

One of my favorite spiritual teachers is Rebeca Campbell. She also offers free meditations on Youtube. Check out her Stepping into Soul Time Meditation.

Use meditation apps

Many meditation apps are available nowadays to support you on your journey. 

My favorite one, Insight Timer, features a wide variety of teachers. The app offers a free plan (which, in my opinion, is more than enough to start) and an upgrade that includes various courses, often in the 10-day format. 

I love this app because it led me to explore the world of meditation in a safe (and free!) manner. On Insight Timer, you will come across many schools of thought and different styles of meditating, which is a real mind opener. If you’re only starting and looking for short guided meditations, they will have you covered too! 

If you give the app a go, connect with me on Insight Timer here, and I will share the playlist of my favorite short meditations with you.

The best time to meditate

The best time to start your meditation practice is NOW! There will always be a reason to postpone it, and as much as I love setting the right atmosphere and location, don’t let it hinder you from getting started.

In the end, all you really need is a few minutes dedicated to yourself. The steps above are there to guide you and help you get started meditating.

One last point I want to touch quickly is the best time of the day to meditate. My favorite time of the day to meditate is the morning. But also because I am an early bird and love to dedicate time in the morning to my spiritual practice, which mediation is part of.

But this doesn’t mean that mornings are necessarily the best time for you. Try out different times of the day. You can be flexible here, but having some consistency will be helpful. Try to integrate it into your day and make it a habit to meditate at a specific time.

Start meditating now

So, how are you feeling after reading all this? Take a deep breath, and give yourself the proper space and time to process all this information. It’s a lot at once, I know! 

In the meantime, if you’d like some help to start meditating, consider joining my FREE Blissful Mornings program! I’ll take you through a 5-day journey to integrate meditation, spirituality, and joy into your day.