How to Center the Self During Meditation

Make your meditation habitual. If you can, do the same style of meditation every day at the same time, for the same length of time, until it becomes a habit, like walking and eating. Bodies love routine. So do minds.

Choose something to focus on. Some people need an actual object to stare at. This could be a candle or an apple or a shoe. You can choose a meaningless word or sound to repeat in your head. Try to use the same focus consistently.

Find enough time. Even seven minutes every day can do absolute wonders.

Find a space where there are no interruptions. Unplug the phone or choose to ignore it. Lock yourself in the bathroom if need be. Accept that there will be noise and outside disturbance, just don't make it an excuse to stop.

Find a way to time yourself so that worrying about the time is not an issue. Preferably something that will make a gentle noise to remind you rather than the stove timer that won't stop screeching until you get up and turn it off.

Breathe. This is your first priority before any mantra or candle or anything else. You need to be in a comfortable position that accommodates good posture so that you can breath fully and comfortably. Think about letting your belly button push out slightly as you inhale and then pull it towards your spine as you exhale.

Finally, focus. The idea of meditation is to be in the moment. That moment may be the apple in front of you or the mantra you have chosen to repeat aloud or silently. Try your best to think only about your object of focus: the color of your apple, the sound of your mantra. Sometimes you need to think loudly (not out loud) to focus.