At the beginning of 2012 I committed to reinvigorating my meditation practice. But we're only a few weeks into the new year and I've already let myself off the hook. I feel as though I have a million things to do and as a result I've put finding time for practice on the back burner. There just doesn't seem to be space in my day for meditation. I start the day with every intention of sitting--at work, or before dinner--but something "important" always gets in the way. But this week I realized it was time to get back on the horse and renew my practice. I read through the first two chapters of Real Happiness and decided it was time to, as Sharon Salzberg writes, "kick open the door."

This morning I sat for just 10 minutes. I thought it would fly by—in the past I've sat for longer stretches—but it felt like forever. It's a start, though, and I'm trying to avoid creating expectations about what I should feel after each sit. Instead, I'm giving myself two tasks for week 1: the first is to take a critical look at my schedule and identify the "relaxing" activities I indulge in—watching TV, eating junk food, trolling around on the internet--that don't actually leave me feeling relaxed or refreshed. The second task is to wake up a little earlier each day to practice for at least 10 minutes before I eat breakfast and head to work. No more excuses--I'm committed to sitting everyday this month!

—Rachel Hiles, Tricycle magazine