Why the new year is a smart time to start a meditation habit

(It’s also a good time to restart or revivify your practice)

Three reasons why the new year is a smart time to start a meditation habit:

1. The “fresh start effect”

I was never a big one for New Year’s resolutions. To me, January 1st just seemed like another day on the calendar.

But then I learned about the science behind the “fresh start effect.” Research has found that temporal landmarks—such as the beginning of a new year, a birthday, even the start of a new week—give us extra energy to tackle the often difficult task of behavior change.

2. Mindfulness can help with your other resolutions

I don’t recommend setting too many resolutions at once, but there’s research to suggest that boosting your mindfulness quotient through meditation can be a sort of an uber-habit that helps with other aspects of your behavior you’re hoping to change.

How? The self-awareness of mindfulness can help you spot the urges and intrusive thoughts that might otherwise derail your attempts to, say, start an exercise routine. Further, meditation can lower stress, which can often be the source of disruptions to habit formation.

3. This new year, I’m launching my first meditation challenge on danharris.com

My free 7-day meditation challenge starts Monday, January 6th. Each morning through January 12th, you’ll be emailed a guided meditation from some of my favorite teachers. And then, on several evenings, I'll be doing live Q&As to help you stay on track (for more details, go here).

If you’ve always wanted to meditate, this is a great way to get started. If you’ve fallen behind on practice, this is your way back into it. If you want to discover new teachers and try new ways to meditate, this is also for you.

Finally, an ask: please invite your friends. Meditating with other people can make it easier and more enjoyable. (And not for nothing, it will also help us grow our little community.)

Inner peace, mthrfkrs