Why I’m Committing to 5 Minutes of Daily Meditation
This fourth goal/habit will begin in February. It’s the first of three that I’ll focus on during that month, and I chose it intentionally.
There have been periods in my life when meditation was a consistent part of my day.
During the three years I lived on the beach on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, when I was surfing almost daily, my sunrise paddle-out was definitely meditative. I was almost always one of the first ones in the water, usually right at the crack of dawn. Those quiet moments, once I made it through the break and into the lineup, became spaces of calm as I watched some of the most spectacular sunrises.
Beyond the water, I’ve also had stretches of more traditional practice: five to fifteen minutes sitting or lying on the ground in silence, focusing on my breath. When I’m in the habit, it feels great. I genuinely enjoy it, even when calming a busy mind isn’t always easy.
But for some reason, the habit comes and goes. A move, a trip, a change in routine, and it seems to slip away easily.
So, of all the habits on my Surefooted Challenge list, this may be the one I’m most looking forward to re-establishing.
The Science Behind It
The benefits of meditation are numerous and well-documented. Even a short daily practice can reduce stress, improve focus, increase emotional resilience, and support overall wellbeing.
One book that has strongly shaped my understanding of meditation is "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It emphasizes that mindfulness doesn’t require long retreats or perfect conditions. Even a few minutes of intentional attention each day can meaningfully shift how we feel, helping us meet the day with more presence and calm.
I’ve come to learn that meditation isn’t about emptying the mind, it’s about noticing what’s already there.
My “Why”
Like many of these micro-habits, five minutes of daily meditation feels realistic. What I’m most interested in is how much difference that small daily commitment might make.
Deep down, I think I’ve missed it - my meditation habit. If I’m completely honest, the times in my life when things have aligned most significantly for me have often been the times when I was meditating consistently. I’m genuinely curious to reestablish the habit, to see whether something has been quietly missing.
I’m also intrigued by a paradox in myself: why I can swim for 90 minutes with relative ease, yet five minutes of lying in silence can feel strangely more difficult. This curiosity, about both my mind and my routine, is part of what makes this experiment exciting for me.
Connection to My Values
This habit reflects values that matter deeply to me:
Consistency over intensity
Creating space rather than forcing change
Caring for my mental and emotional wellbeing through small daily actions
What I Hope to Learn This Month
I’m curious about what shifts when meditation becomes non-negotiable - not something I aspire to do, but something I actually do. I also wonder whether I’ll be able to keep it going once the month ends.
Some questions I’m holding include:
How does a short daily pause affect the rest of my day?
What changes when I stop waiting for the “right” conditions to start a mediation habit?
Does consistency matter more than duration?
Invitation
How does this land for you?
Is there a small grounding practice that helps you reset or slow down?
What happens when you give yourself even a few minutes of quiet?
How do you create space for stillness?
There’s no right answer - just curiosity.