“While it’s highly beneficial to incorporate the principles of meditation into other aspects of our lives by doing “post-meditation” activities mindfully, having a formal meditation practice is still important in its own right. It can help to think of practicing mindfulness in everyday activities as a great supplement to, rather than a substitute for, having a consistent formal practice.”

One of the frequently asked questions that meditation teachers and practitioners will come across is whether or not it works to meditate while doing other activities like exercising, gardening, sitting on the train, or falling asleep at night. There are certainly similarities between the feeling of a meditative state and what is referred to as achieving a "flow state" or getting in the zone, but it’s important to acknowledge the nuances of this ancient practice that distinguish it from other activities.

One major thing that sets formal meditation practice apart from other meditative activities is the instructions. Practicing calm-abiding awareness (also known as shamatha) can lead to a sensation of emptying the mind, which may at times resemble daydreaming or spacing out, but is different in that it is a result of structured and intentional directives rather than a result of multitasking.

When we are performing a meditative task like running or gardening, the instructions we’re following internally are often regarding that particular activity, with the meditative feeling being a secondary effect that follows. On the other hand, when we do formal meditation practice, the instructions — whether they pertain to loving-kindness, mindfulness, contemplation, or another variation — are at the forefront of our intention, serving as an anchor for the type of discoveries we'll make.

Along with the instructions, the form that accompanies meditation is another distinguishing aspect of the practice. This includes the physical posture of seated or walking meditation, as well as the literal space, time, and dedication required to carry out the practice. Our efforts towards practicing with good form — consistency, precision, awareness — generate a sort of kinetic energy that can lead us to meaningful change, but loses some of its power if we get too comfortable performing the motions without clear intention.

Formal meditation practice creates a strong and specific container in which to receive certain insights, and that container can't be entirely reproduced in other settings when some of its key ingredients have been removed. While it’s highly beneficial to incorporate the principles of meditation into other aspects of our lives by doing “post-meditation” activities mindfully, having a formal meditation practice is still important in its own right. It can help to think of practicing mindfulness in everyday activities as a great supplement to, rather than a substitute for, having a consistent formal practice.