I’m Baa-ack! Yippee! School is back in session — which means…..I have my me time back! (This is coming from a mom who doesn’t have any little kids left at home, mind you.) As much as I hate all the school deadlines and all that goes along with it, the school schedule does allow me to get my mini moments of clarity more consistently back in my schedule. And by mini moments of clarity, I mean meditation.

Medi-what? Yes, meditation. I know for busy moms, this sounds like a complete waste of time. After all, who needs another item on their never-ending to-do list? But I’m here to lobby for it, because if you have never experienced the “free time” you get when meditation, you’re truly missing out!

Let me first describe the benefits, so you’ll see how NOT a waste of time it is:

1. Meditation reduces stress – which is the number one item that is on the list for ALL DISEASES! Science has proven that de-stressing leads to longevity (which is more time living a healthy life!) Wanna see your great grand kids? Get meditation on your to-do list.

2. Twenty to thirty minutes of meditation is as restful as about 2 to 3 hours of sleep. This leads to more time alert — what’s not to love…

3. When you practice meditation consistently, you will find yourself having a heightened sense of intuition, which comes in very handy when planning your day. I find that having this honed sense of intuition saves tons of time when making decisions whether big or small. It’s true, I swear!

Not sure how to start? Here’s my suggestion. Tend to your senses:

1. Feel. Find your meditation space. If you have a go-to place where you will not be disturbed ready and waiting, you’ll be more inclined to use it. There are meditation pillows and benches, and such, but I’d start out with a comfortable chair in a room that is very quiet and off the beaten path in your home. After many attempts in different places within my home, I found my meditation spot in my “dressing room” closet – its got sound-proofing acoustics with all the clothes and there’s no reason for anyone else to come in there (no phones either!) And after trying out many chairs, I ended up liking one of the accordion-folding chairs that we use to take to little league games. One pillow in back for lumbar support and I’m i n business!

One additional bit of advice here: unplug anything electrical around you. Electricity in your meditation vicinity can keep the mind jumpy and over excited.

2. See. Light a candle. I find that the fire element helps focus meditation energies. It makes a good ritual to signal your mind and body that it is meditation time too. If you’d like additional focusing capabilities or an alternative to the candle, I’d suggest finding a small bit of nature (a little flower, or stone, etc.) to gaze upon if you want to do an open eye meditation. I personally find however, that it is easier for me to get back in the groove of meditating if my eyes are closed.

3. Hear. Unplug the phones and turn off the cell phone (or put a do not disturb sign on the front door.) It helps your mind calm down knowing that there will not be interruptions. I find that when I’m getting back into the practice of meditating, a guided visualization is the easiest to do…keeps the mind on task. Find a guided visualization that you like and work with it. Oftentimes I don’t like new guided meditations, but then I also know that if I listen to them over and over, I learn to LOVE them.

Once I find my groove, I prefer to sit in the silence, but I’m never opposed to playing background music, nature sounds, or listen to a guided meditation CD any time I feel too jittery to settle down in the silence.

4. Smell. Not my personal gig, but some people find that certain smells help anchor them in a meditative state. I’d recommend a natural smell (organic essential oil or incense) versus synthetic fragrances.

5. Taste. My recommendation here is to not be hopped up on caffeine or sugar (or other “mind expanding” substances) when meditating. We’re going for the natural high.

My final bit of advice is stick to it. Set a consistent time for yourself and promise yourself this wonderful daily gift. And remember, lifting weights does not produce big muscles overnight, and meditation usually doesn’t produce a zen experience off the bat. Allow yourself time to find your groove with it, and it will repay you many, many times over.

Woo-hoo! School is back in session and so am I!