The benefits of meditation are undeniable. From lowering blood pressure and improving productivity to rewiring key areas of the brain that control focus and self-awareness.

While some people consider prayer to be a form of meditation or vice versa, it has always felt different for me and I have tried a variety of methods to develop a meditation practice.

When I tried focusing on my breath, I felt like I was hyperventilating or unable to take a good deep breath. I’ve tried guided meditations but didn’t feel relaxed afterward. I’ve tried relaxing my body incrementally from head to toe. I’ve never tried a mantra because I always thought a certified meditation guru had to assign one.

Since none of these methods ever worked, I had no luck making meditation a habit.

To be fair, I was never sure what the goal of meditation was beyond training your mind to not freak out when the shit hit the fan by building that calm muscle when life was normal.

In the past year, I discovered a purpose and method of meditation that resonates.

Purpose: To quiet the mind.

Method: Pick a constant sound in the environment and focus on that. (The hum of a refrigerator or air conditioner, a lawnmower or at this time of year, locusts buzzing outside). These types of noises are fairly common in any environment.

Duration: 10-20 min tops. At least that’s what works for me. I set a timer for 16 minutes.

If I catch myself thinking of a problem or situation, I just redirect my focus to the sound.

I try to meditate within a half hour of waking up. There’s evidence that your brain is in a optimal state for the benefits of meditation soon after waking. (We’re talking brain waves-alpha, beta, gamma, delta, theta-all of which indicate a certain level of activity).

I think the practice has made me feel better overall. That can’t be a bad thing. I’m not an anxious person by nature but it has helped me worry less about things that come up.

Here’s a fun anecdote: I was looking for a magnifying glass to read micro print on something. After looking in a few drawers, I thought to myself: “My subconscious knows exactly where I put it.” I stopped looking and set the timer for 5 minutes to meditate. Within a couple of minutes, I knew exactly where it was and went right to it. (If that hadn’t worked, St. Anthony never fails).

If you’ve been trying to establish a meditation practice, this simple method might help.