An undeniable fact of modern life is that it's busy. Often too busy, in fact, for us to be able to prioritise the things that really matter including our mental health and wellbeing. We all know that regular

There may, however, be a way to reap the rewards of meditation without investing so much precious time in fact, experts have found that just 12 minutes of mindfulness a day may be enough to bring down the cortisol levels that contribute to heightened stress. Plenty of wellness practitioners have endorsed this so-called magic number, and Apple has even launched an entire podcast series, 12 Minute Meditation, dedicated to the art of slimmed-down meditation, in collaboration with Mindful.

"The latest scientific research reveals that 12 minutes of meditation a day yields benefits like increased attention, focus, creativity, calm, resilience and compassion," says Apple. "With a new mindfulness meditation each week, 12 Minute Meditation invites you to bring the benefits of mindfulness to daily life." Episodes focus on everything from replenishing cognitive energy to cultivating more compassionate self-talk and all are pleasingly quick to complete.

"It's not about the length of your meditation but the regularity of your practice that truly matters," says Leah Santa Cruz, co-head of meditation at Balance, an award-winning meditation app. "Just as with exercise, consistency triumphs over occasional intensity. We've found in research labs that a lot of great benefits begin even within three minutes of meditation. The mind and body start to relax and release stored tension very quickly, and can even access states that are more restful for the body than sleep itself. The goal is to be disciplined enough to establish a habit but not to obsess over perfection."

Regular meditation however you do it can contribute enormously to your wellbeing

So how do you start a 12-minute meditation routine? There are two approaches you can adopt: 12 minutes straight once a day, or a one-minute session every hour. Yes, even 60 seconds of concentrated meditation can be enough, as long as you're making it a regular habit; popular platform Headspace (known for it's supremely relaxing, guided mediations) even offers a one-minute recording that's excellent for de-stressing.

If you opt for one session a day, try to show up at the same time, advises Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, resident psychic at The Wellness Foundry. "Consider incorporating meditation into your morning routine, ideally right after waking up," he says. "This time is ideal, as you're less prone to dozing off and, hopefully, you've had a restful night's sleep. Begin with a five-minute session, then gradually extend the duration."

Whatever method you choose, it's encouraging to know that meditation can be a useful and achievable tool for even the most time-poor among us. Like every habit, mindfulness is honed by small, incremental actions repeated regularly and it could be one of the most valuable additions you make to your routine this year.

Interested? We've compiled a short cheat sheet to help you get going along with some products that could make your meditation journey that little bit easier.

HOW TO START MEDITATING

Start small, and don't expect too much of yourself initially. Try two minutes a day, every other day, and build up your habit from there.

Find a place where there's no distraction your bedroom just after you wake up or before you go to sleep, for example.

Try heart-rhythm meditation. Place your fingers on your pulse, close your eyes and regulate your breathing to match your heartbeat.

Give 'box breathing' a go to focus your mind: breath in for four beats, hold for four beats, exhale for four beats, hold for four beats, then repeat.

A silk eye mask might help you block out the outside world when you're meditating. Try Drowsy's extra thick, strapless version, which is supremely comfortable and won't slip around.

Scent can be incredibly transporting, and this mood-boosting blend of jasmine, gardenia and rose geranium essential oils from Espa functions as an effective on-the-go pick-me-up.

If you like using podcasts or guided meditations, then a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is invaluable. Providing 20 hours of wireless listening time, this mint-green pair from Apple delivers on sound quality, comfort and sizing.

Are you sitting comfortably? You will be with this mini bolster, which can be used as a backrest, seat cushion and more for a comfortable, supportive position essential when you're meditating.

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Why you should try a 12-minute meditation - Harper's Bazaar UK