You might think the holidays would be the easiest time to fit in meditation.

However, this can be one of the trickier times, given the lack of a routine, socializing, travelling, and being available for family and friends in a different way.

And of course, these are exactly the situations when you need meditation the most!

Here are some top tips for staying on track over the summer:

1. Plan it! 

Meditation happens when you plan it. And on holiday when your schedule is more fluid, you need to be on it with your planning. Get that first meditation in early. And when you come out of the morning meditation, have a think about when you’re going to be able to close the eyes in the afternoon.

Set a reminder on your phone to give you a nudge. Let your friends go on ahead of you and then hang back and meditate. Give the children something to watch while you sit for 20 minutes in the next room and meditate. Have someone else drive and then you can close your eyes and meditate en route. Find that moment.

2. The ultimate jet lag buster.

Flying is tough on the body and even short-haul flights make for a tiring day — just getting on the plane is a huge logistical feat. The best way to counteract these effects is to meditate as much as is comfortable on the flight.

This might mean you’re meditating for longer, e.g. 30-40 minutes at a time. It might mean you’re meditating several times during the flight. If you’ve already meditated in the morning and then you’re flying during the day, add an extra meditation on the flight, or at the very least count that as your second meditation for the day.

3. Ten minutes is better than no minutes.

We always want to aim for 20 minutes twice a day — that’s what’s going to give you the optimal balance of deep rest vs activity. And sometimes it’s simply not possible.

If you don’t have the full 25 minutes needed to meditate and come out slowly, then do 10 minutes. Always make sure you still take 3 minutes to come out at the end. Ten minutes will be better than missing meditation completely.

4. Be flexible about the where and when.

Over the holidays you might not have the same regular routine to keep your meditation consistent. Remember it’s not necessary to meditate at the same time each day. You have a lot of flexibility over when and where you meditate.

The main thing to watch is that you’re not meditating too late at night. Although if you’re eating and staying up later than normal it’s fine to meditate a bit later than when you’re at home. The cutoff point would be around 8pm – 8.30pm.

5. Inspirational summer listening.

I know many of you have listened to Michael’s podcast, Speaking of Meditation. He’s been loving all the comments and feedback – thank you. If you haven’t been able to tune in yet, perhaps the holidays will give you some space to listen.

It’s a great way to connect with your practice — hearing about the real-life experiences of others is always inspiring and motivating.

Wherever you are over the holidays, we’re wishing you a relaxing and happy time.

– Jillian Lavender is co-founder of London Meditation Centre and New York Meditation Center.