Establishing and sustaining a practice
To begin with, don't wait to feel motivated. Motivation might never come. You just have to do it. The following steps might help...
Commit
Perhaps the first thing to do when you start a course or you are embarking on your own independent practice of mindfulness meditation, is to commit. Make a decision that this is something you are going to do and simply turn up. Turn up to the session with your teacher or turn up to your own practice. Easier said than done?
Share your plans with someone you trust
At first you might feel self-conscious about saying that you’re going to meditate. Do it anyway. It’s really useful to recruit a friend or family member who will be supportive. And if you’re using a room in a shared house it’s great if you can let others know so they can respect your space.
Book your time slot
Decide when and how long you are going to commit to practice. It may be that you get up a bit earlier or you use the time after dinner or before bedtime. Can you take 5 or ten minutes when children are sleeping? I’m a morning person so I would get up extra early when I was working full time. The house was quiet, no one else was up and it felt like a precious time that sustained me during the day. That habit has stuck. Whatever you choose, the important thing to do is work with your own body clock and then commit to that time. If you miss a day, the world won’t stop turning. Ease off the self-criticism: be patient, trust yourself, stop judging.
Then find your space
Most of us don’t have the luxury of a dedicated meditation room! But you can create a quiet peaceful area within a room that’s your space and where you won’t be disturbed. Ideally it will be uncluttered and you can settle down quickly on your chair, cushion or meditation bench. If your home environment is noisy, try headphones or earbuds – you’ll probably be using them for guided meditations anyway. Work with the sounds. It doesn’t have to be silent for you to meditate.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Adopt postures that work for you – I never sit cross-legged – it’s just too uncomfortable for me. If you need to lie down go ahead. Inside or outside! For a year after I finished school teaching, I did most meditations lying down with bent knees to ease the lower back. Keep warm and cosy with a blanket. Use cushions. Light a scented candle. This isn’t an endurance test but a time to feel comfortable and at ease – as far as is possible. 
Now decide on what your practice is going to be
When you sit down (or lie or kneel…) to meditate, start with an intention. What is the focus of your practice? If you are self-guiding and struggling, don’t beat yourself up about going back to some guided meditations. Use the 9 attitudes to help you as well, perhaps working with one or two at a time.
The Mindfulness Now programme I teach encourages you to start with short daily practices which you can increase in length as you progress through the course if you choose. This, and any difficulties you are having, will be something to discuss in training sessions. Everyone, even very experienced meditators, can find practice challenging at times. But the challenges provide us with ample opportunities to explore mindfulness in its full glory!
