They say that the hardest part of going to the gym is putting on your running shoes: Once you’ve got the shoes on, you’re going. But sometimes it’s near impossible to get to that point!
Same thing with meditation: Once you’re on the mat, you’re meditating. But procrastination can let the whole day slip by without getting to the mat. (Or getting to the chair. You don’t have to sit on a special cushion to meditate. Use whatever setup works for you.)
This is one key advantage to having a specific time in your schedule to meditate. If you make it part of your routine, then it flows with your day. Just like brushing your teeth. You don’t even have to think about it, you just do it.
Once you have a regular practice of meditation, then NOT MEDITATING becomes more effort than it is to MEDITATE. If you miss your standard “appointment” of meditation then there’s this annoying little ding that keeps popping up in your mind all day long – I haven’t meditated yet, I haven’t meditated yet. It will keep popping up until you do.
Even if you come home from work exhausted and you have a bunch of chores to take care of, even if you just don’t feel like meditating today, once you get your butt to your meditation spot, the hard part is over. By then, you’re doing it. The meditation will carry you. And you will feel so much better – and be so proud of yourself! – when you’re done!