Start practicing mindfulness meditation, as it can help manage anxiety and improve your ability to stay present and appreciate the moment, as Adam found it helpful for his anxiety.
Consider seeing a psychologist or therapist, even if you feel generally good, as it provides valuable support for navigating life’s challenges and promoting overall mental health, as Adam highly recommends it to everyone.
Practice recognizing negative thoughts as transient ’thoughts’ rather than absolute truths, and avoid investing energy into them, as meditating allows you to recognize that not every thought is worth investigating and feeding.
Aim to meditate consistently (e.g., 4-5 days a week) but don’t judge yourself for missed days, as self-criticism can lead to discouragement and abandoning the practice, similar to how one should not judge wandering thoughts during meditation.
Understand that achieving goals often leads to a temporary ‘dopamine hit’ before becoming the new baseline, so be aware of the tendency to constantly move goalposts for happiness, which can become a source of unhappiness.
Use meditation to re-engage with and appreciate present moments in daily life, counteracting disillusionment by bringing awareness to mundane activities like eating a sandwich or observing your child.
Practice meditation regardless of external noise or busyness, as it’s possible to meditate effectively in places like airplanes or loud green rooms without needing perfect quiet.
Leverage meditation apps like Headspace or Insight Timer to access guided meditations and structured programs that can help establish and vary your practice.
Integrate both guided meditations (which are not ‘cheating’) and unguided sessions (using a timer) into your practice to gain variety and ’test yourself,’ as switching back and forth is great.
Embrace healthy lifestyle choices such as eating well, exercising, meditating, yoga, and foam rolling, as these are crucial for physical and mental sustainability in demanding careers and for long-term success.
Cultivate small positive habits, like making your bed when you wake up, to build momentum and a sense of accomplishment early in the day.
If guided meditation apps require internet, download sessions beforehand or be prepared to set a timer and practice unguided meditation when offline, such as on a plane.
Inform those around you about your meditation practice to foster respect and support, as Adam’s bandmates were respectful and even accommodated his meditation schedule.
Ask trusted individuals, such as family members who meditate or your therapist, for suggestions on how to get started with meditation, as Adam’s brother and psychologist suggested it to him.
When using apps like Headspace, commit to following specific meditation ‘packs’ (e.g., anxiety, relationships) daily, as the app’s structure encourages sticking with a theme to build consistency.