9 Tips for Meditating When You’re an Overthinker

If you’re struggling with monkey mind, it’s best to give yourself a bit of grace. Beating yourself up really isn’t great for the meditative vibe, anyway. The reality is that racing thoughts are totally normal.
“We live in a culture that stimulates our brain and senses 24/7, so it’s no wonder we’re having trouble with this,” says Fairoth. “I always tell my clients not to be so hard on themselves and to understand it’s not just them, it’s society.”
Besides, your version of successful meditation may be something totally different from the guru-on-a-mountaintop image, and that’s OK.
“We need to normalize what meditation looks like,” says Neidich. “It is not sitting in a specific position with your palms turned upwards and your mind blank. Meditation is finding a brief sense of peace and stillness wherever you may be during a period of dedicated practice.”
Although the idea of quieting the mind and blissing out in meditation sounds wonderfully rejuvenating, actually achieving a meditative state can be an uphill battle for those of us with overactive thoughts.

If you’re an overthinker, you may have come to believe meditation isn’t for you. But according to experts, successful meditation is possible, even for people with busy minds.

Here are nine strategies to try.