Everyday Mindfulness

I have been meditating through guided meditations with Get Some Headspace for over a year - the sessions culminate in an 80 day block where you are weaned off the 'guided' bit and go off on your own without stabilisers! There is a timing in the session, and Andy does finish up the sessions with a couple of minutes chat to take with you in the day, but I have found it hard to know/sense when the 20 minutes is up. I have started using a timed mindfulness bell from another website which chimes after 18 minutes so I can gradually bring myself back, but I feel this is a 'failure' on my part to not grow into the timing, although obviously it is what it is. What to others do? do you just go on until you stop, or use a timer (and do you recommend any particular timer?) I am accepting of my need for artificial help, but feel it is a bit over-controlling (one of my mind's problem areas) and does mean I'm not completely going with the flow. Any thoughts?

This is a handy site where you can customise your own meditation timer. Convert to MP3 and drop into iTunes. Works a treat for me.
http://www.yourmeditationtimer.com/timer?stop=s

I use the insight timer app because otherwise I would be distracted for the whole sitting wondering how long I'd been sat there.
I don't think of as a failure on my part or yours. I find it more conducive to focused formal practice plus if I feel I want to sit for longer I do so

I agree with Fiona, using a timer can be good as it helps you stop worrying about or trying to keep track of time. Maybe if I lived in a monastery and didn't have anything to do the rest of the day, it might not matter but otherwise, if it helps, then great!

Steve

Timers?

Time is man's way of trying to structure that which is unstructured. It is not a natural thing, and you should not be worrying about time during your practice. Use your own feeling on how you think you're doing.

I think mindfulness is a personal and instinctive thing. What works for you may not be appropriate for another. Sharing our experiences and knowledge respectfully is important. We won't all agree on everything

I used to think a lot about time when I first started meditating. "When will it be over" that type of thing. Sometimes now 30 minutes are over in a heartbeat. Like everything with mindfulness: what you need is practice.

Sorry I can't add more Barbs, but I think my little boy is about to destroy the house.

Medway Tai Chi wrote:Timers?

Time is man's way of trying to structure that which is unstructured. It is not a natural thing, and you should not be worrying about time during your practice. Use your own feeling on how you think you're doing.

I second this...sorry guys!

rara wrote:

Medway Tai Chi wrote:Timers?

Time is man's way of trying to structure that which is unstructured. It is not a natural thing, and you should not be worrying about time during your practice. Use your own feeling on how you think you're doing.

I second this...sorry guys!

I think whatever works for each of us, theres no hard set rules, because i do more informal meditation I am struggling with long formal meds, my mind wonders more near the end of a 20 minute, so although i havent used a timer yuet i think i will give it a go and see if that works better.

Thanks for all the interesting points. I think it's possible for both to be true actually - clearly time is an artificial structure and we shouldn't let it 'rule' our practice at all, but also clearly we live in a world where our own 'time' is very precious, and most of us aren't living in circumstances where we can choose to meditate for however long it is, much as we might like to! If I can't have some indication of time I will not be able to commit to practice at all, as I haven't got the freedom in my day to day life to do so because of other family responsibilities. I do prioritise meditating every morning, but on the understanding with the rest of my household that it is 20-30 minutes. I can see that there are benefits to going on retreat for example where you can have time-free meditation, although I get the impression that something or someone does 'end' the session there, even if it's just to tell you food is ready!

The advantage for me of a meditation timed bell is that I can help my mind not to ruminate on the time issue if I know it's dealt with externally,rather than being caught up in that distraction throughout the mediation.