When we get rushed, the mind will formulate all kinds of reasons why we cannot do the things which are good for us – take time out, meditate, exercise, visit friends. This is because it realizes we are under pressure, and mistakenly opts for two contrasting strategies to deal with this. Firstly, it convinces us that we need to conserve energy, that we do not have time to take things easy or socialize. Secondly, it focuses all its energy on the problem, normally by deciding that we should  think about it a lot. Both strategies will actually exacerbate the problem in the long run, but the mind prioritizes how we use our  time by being tricked by the very pressure it is trying to relieve.

Therefore until our practice becomes firmly established we have to remind ourselves to choose to meditate when we get stressed. This is why a fixed routine and a conscious intention are useful.  As one meditation teacher said, meditation actually begins the night before when we form the intention in our mind to set aside the time the next morning. A fixed time each day frees us from associating the practice with what sort of day yesterday was and what may  happen today, and allows us take a proactive stance towards our overall wellbeing in the face of constantly changing mind states. It help us embody the constancy we would like to feel in the face of our changing moods.