Favorite Meditation Podcasts for Busy People

Honestly, I used to think that I would be the world’s worst meditator. Is that a word? Meditation practitioner? Anyway, the thought of sitting still for an hour, or 20 minutes, or even five minutes sent me into a panic. I can barely sit still through the first 10 minutes of a movie, and that’s when I’m being entertained. How could I possibly sit with my own thoughts?

I had a therapist once who, as an exercise, wanted me to sit with my thoughts, without any distractions, for 15 minutes a week. You see, I am a master distraction artist.  TV, books, magazines, movies, I can distract myself through any kind of crisis, as long as it means I don’t have to cope with my feelings.

Enter the age of apps and podcasts.  I admit I came very late to the podcast game, but I’ve been devouring them since introduction.  My favorites are true crime and mystery…and meditation.

Favorite Meditation Podcasts for Busy People Pin Now, since we live in an age where information is consumed in bite sized morsels and the pace of the world moves faster and faster, I started coming across more and more articles on meditation. Meditation for weight loss; for insomnia; for manifesting.  It seems there is something for everyone.

So I decided to start exploring.

I found a few meditation apps through the app store and tried those, but most of them either required in app purchases or were very long meditations (40 minutes plus).  So on a whim one day, I decided to do a search in my podcast app, and was I pleasantly surprised.

Not only were the meditation podcasts choices plentiful, but there were many available that offered short, manageable meditations, ranging from 5 to 20 minutes in length.  I started picking one meditation to do per day, depending on my mood.  Then, I decided that starting my morning with meditation and maybe some journaling was a good idea.  So I found a couple of 4-minute morning meditations to start my days off right.

And you know what?  I actually started to feel a difference.  I could feel myself getting less worked up about little things, like being cut off in traffic, or some perceived slight at work that I normally would have exploded at.  And I started to enjoy the feeling of…peace.

So here’s my list of my favorite meditation podcasts for busy people.  These are just the ones I’m subscribed to; I’m sure there are plenty of others out there, and I welcome any suggestions!

Meditation Oasis

Favorite Meditation Podcasts for Busy People - Meditation Oasis Meditation Oasis by Mary and Richard Maddux has a great variety of sessions with an without music.  According to their description, they are, “Meditations to help you relax deeply, be more present and flow more easily with life.”  There are also instruction sessions in their podcasts on how to do meditations on your own.

One of my favorites, when I have the time, is the Morning Energy Meditation.  This one is 17 minutes long, so a bit lengthier than I normally prefer, but thorough  and energizing.  I also enjoy the Body Awareness Meditation.  I like to use this one for Shavasana after my Do Yoga With Me sessions.

Meditation Minis Podcast

 

Favorite Meditations for Busy People - Meditation MinisMeditation Minis is hosted by Hypnotherapist Chel Hamilton.  These meditations are, “mind-shifting mini meditations to calm your anxiety, overcome negative thinking, and increase your confidence in 10(ish) minutes or less.”    Chel’s soothing voice flows gently through these short meditations, soothing the soul and preparing you to tackle the rest of your day.

For Meditation Minis, I love the Energizing Meditation by the Sea.  Accompanied by ocean sounds in the background, this meditation is great for clarity, energy, and generally a more positive outlook on your day.  I also love the Finding Your Purpose meditation.  If I’m ever feeling lost, or like a failure, this meditation helps center and calm me.

Guided Meditations
Favorite Meditations for Busy People - Guided Meditation
Guided Meditations

One Mind Dharma has a great meditation podcast simply titled Guided Meditations.  Some of these are slightly longer, in the 25-minute realm, but if you have the time, they’re wonderful. Guided Meditations podcast “covers a variety of Buddhist topics including mindfulness, compassion, concentration, and more.”

I particularly enjoy the Mindfulness meditations, of which there are several.  These meditations are great for centering yourself when feeling overwhelmed or chaotic.

Meditation Station by Stin Hansen
Favorite Meditations for Busy People - Meditation Station
Meditation Station by Stin Hansen

Stin Hansen’s station has a fantastic variety of short podcasts, designed for anything from destressing to focus to finding stillness.  The description reads, “These regular meditations are designed to turn your desires into reality and still some of the craziness.”

Meditation Station has lots of options under 10 minutes.  There are a couple of morning meditations, Morning Rejuvination and Good Morning, Sunshine, that are each 4 minutes long and really set a good start to my day.

So whether you’re looking to relax, energize, lose weight, manage pain, and a host of other things, these meditations have a little something for everyone.  With some clocking in at less than 10 minutes, it’s easy to simply pop in some earbuds and take a mini break.  The longer podcasts are great for a lazy weekend afternoon that needs some centering.

Have a meditation you love?  Tell me about it! Leave me a comment or message me here.