Mindfulness isn’t about not thinking; it’s about noticing your present body and sensations. It’s easy to blame ourselves when the meditation isn’t going right, “I can’t do this.” Getting distracted in thought while first trying to meditate is entirely normal. The best way to frame it, I got from Tim Ferris saying “Think of going from a thought back to your breath as a rep while working out”. It isn’t about not thinking; it’s about going from the thinking to the breath. This is what you are looking for. As you continue the practice, you will be able to notice when you are in your thought loops. Mindfulness allows you to feel and emotion but not identify with it deeply. .
Peter Attia – Meditation creates a gap between our automatic reactions
Meditation doesn’t have to be sitting in your room. If you can get into a very present state while walking, running, sitting in nature, or doing something else, do that.
Keep the barrier of entry as low as possible – When I first tried to implement a practice, even if I meditated for one minute, it would count. Don’t try to go from 0 to 20 minutes daily at first. If you can go for 20 minutes, that’s great, but consistency is key. In my opinion, doing a 1-minute meditation daily for a week is worth more than one 20-minute session.
There is no perfect time for everyone – My habit is to meditate after I get out of the shower. Many people like to do it as the first thing after waking up. You should do what works for you.
Sam Harris App – My preferred meditation app – https://www.wakingup.com/
Headspace – The app I used to start adding mindfulness to my day – https://www.headspace.com/
https://www.headspace.com/meditation/meditation-101
Books –
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC2NHG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GFBP6W/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
https://www.amazon.com/Already-Free-Buddhism-Psychotherapy-Liberation/dp/1622034112