When we can’t sit still to meditate….
When I am asked: What do I do when I want to meditate but I can’t sit still with (or without) my thoughts for more than a few minutes?
My answer is: Fine! Begin where you are with what you have. That holds true for many things in life and is the answer here. You only need to meditate for as long as you can right now. Even if you start with five minutes or two minutes, wherever you are at right now, and slowly increase as you are able to over time, it will reap benefits for you. Increase from 2 to 5 minutes to ten minutes then 15 minutes over time, and you will be amazed by the sense of calm that you feel.
You could try to meditate for five minutes combined with a walk in nature. Or Instead of sitting and meditating you could go for a walk in nature instead. You may feel more able to sit and meditate after that but even if not, the walk will bring you many benefits.
I love to walk! I have a dog and so I walk regularly but I also feel that walking outside, whether it be city streets or nature walks, is a form of meditation for me. Walking is so simple that it is often overlooked as a mindfulness activity but it is a wonderful way to support your regular meditation and mindfulness practice.