The 11 Hour Challenge: 11 hours of meditation in 11 days

[Ultralight]

Some friends from the Columbus Minimalist group and I are doing the 11 Hour Challenge.

This is 11 hours of mindfulness meditation in 11 days. One must sit for at least 20 minutes uninterrupted per session.

The challenge is going from Dec. 19th through Dec. 29th.

I've done this challenge a few times already and it is really, really tough. I basically must put everything else in my life on pause for those 11 days in order to focus on meditation.

[Williamsmith]

Some friends from the Columbus Minimalist group and I are doing the 11 Hour Challenge.

This is 11 hours of mindfulness meditation in 11 days. One must sit for at least 20 minutes uninterrupted per session.

The challenge is going from Dec. 19th through Dec. 29th.

I've done this challenge a few times already and it is really, really tough. I basically must put everything else in my life on pause for those 11 days in order to focus on meditation.

UA

In my neck of the woods......it's called Deer Season.

[Ultralight]

I tried hunting deer one season. No luck on the deer, plenty of meditation though. In the freezing cold!

You're right though!

[catherine]

So you sit 20 minutes 3x a day, or I guess you could do 1 hour once a day? Or 30 minutes twice a day?

I'm already doing 20 min/day: would probably be difficult to be disciplined enough to do an hour, but it's a good challenge! Why do you have to put your life on pause for 1 hour a day?

[ApatheticNoMore]

Because that 1 hour was the 1 free hour a day one had to keep their entire life from falling apart. Haha, that's almost reality in the modern world ...

[Ultralight]

So you sit 20 minutes 3x a day, or I guess you could do 1 hour once a day? Or 30 minutes twice a day?

I'm already doing 20 min/day: would probably be difficult to be disciplined enough to do an hour, but it's a good challenge! Why do you have to put your life on pause for 1 hour a day?

Previously when I have done this I start out doing 3 20s and then 2 30s. But I have done 20 and 40 as well as 60 straight. And that is tough!

For me anyway...

The research shows that physical changes to the brain happen once 11 hours is reached. But it has to be in a fairly short period of time, and 11 days is short enough.

It takes a lot of will power to do 60 minutes of meditation a day when you are already depleted from work, commutes, chores, etc.

That is why I have to put everything on pause, to save up my grit! haha

[ApatheticNoMore]

there's also research on longer periods of time but shorter time spent meditating, so I don't know that it all has to be in a short period of time:
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/

Yes I hear you the utter exhaustion, life must be put on hold to actually commit to just about anything. This fantasy world where we can do all the stuff we're suppose to do (exercise and meditate and cook and do chores and maintain functioning romantic relationships and several good friendships etc.), where does it exist, and how do I get there?

[Ultralight]

there's also research on longer periods of time but shorter time spent meditating, so I don't know that it all has to be in a short period of time:
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/

Yes I hear you the utter exhaustion, life must be put on hold to actually commit to just about anything. This fantasy world where we can do all the stuff we're suppose to do (exercise and meditate and cook and do chores and maintain functioning romantic relationships and several good friendships etc.), where does it exist, and how do I get there?

That life does not exist in our paradigm unless you're independently wealthy.

That makes choosing what you can do really, really hard. At least I have found that so.

[Mary B.]

Seems like a good idea to choose 11 days over Christmas, given that that's typically a time with some holidays from work. (And I realize this isn't true for everyone.)

[Williamsmith]

My religious tradition of prayer both at home and at Wednesday night prayer meetings makes this challenge a way of life on a daily basis. This is what I grew up with as a child. Not a strict part of my life anymore.

I also used to just go out into the woods and sit without moving. Stump sitting is a form of meditation and I made a few life decisions after sitting on a favorite Swamp Oak stump overlooking a deep valley with a flowing stream I could hear in the distance.

There is a famous house built for a Pittsburgh businessman in the department store named Kaufmanns. The house is named Falling Waters built by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house is built over a water falls and to me the whole thing is meditative.

I think this is a great challenge.

[flowerseverywhere]

Previously when I have done this I start out doing 3 20s and then 2 30s. But I have done 20 and 40 as well as 60 straight. And that is tough!

For me anyway...

The research shows that physical changes to the brain happen once 11 hours is reached. But it has to be in a fairly short period of time, and 11 days is short enough.

It takes a lot of will power to do 60 minutes of meditation a day when you are already depleted from work, commutes, chores, etc.

That is why I have to put everything on pause, to save up my grit! haha

if you are already depleted why do it? Like Apathetic NM says, our lives are full enough. I really don't get the purpose of a challenge if it will stress you out more. Maybe an extra 60 minutes of sleep might help.

You don't have to be the best at everything. Just the best person you can be.

[Ultralight]

if you are already depleted why do it? Like Apathetic NM says, our lives are full enough. I really don't get the purpose of a challenge if it will stress you out more. Maybe an extra 60 minutes of sleep might help.

You don't have to be the best at everything. Just the best person you can be.


“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day — unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” -Zen proverb

[catherine]

I also used to just go out into the woods and sit without moving. Stump sitting is a form of meditation and I made a few life decisions after sitting on a favorite Swamp Oak stump overlooking a deep valley with a flowing stream I could hear in the distance.


Love this!


There is a famous house built for a Pittsburgh businessman in the department store named Kaufmanns. The house is named Falling Waters built by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house is built over a water falls and to me the whole thing is meditative.

You live near Falling Water? So cool! I've always wanted to see it!! I went to Taliesin West in Arizona and it was absolutely amazing. It was so well integrated with the environment it was like a chameleon.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Maybe an extra 60 minutes of sleep might help.

truthfully that was one of, if not the major competitor, that meditation lost out to when I was doing it. I was too tired to do it after work without falling asleep, and I did it reliably in the morning mostly for a couple months, but eventually the desire to grab more sleep in the morning was strong indeed. I'm not saying maybe I shouldn't have meditated but just what actually happened last time.

I can sit for hours in nature as well and it makes me happy, like little else, though formal meditation is much more difficult.

The xmas period they do the challenge in really only has one more day off than a normal week (xmas day unless you take vacation time) as they don't even overlap with the other day off in that period, which is new years day.

[Ultralight]

truthfully that was one of, if not the major competitor, that meditation lost out to when I was doing it. I was too tired to do it after work without falling asleep, and I did it reliably in the morning mostly for a couple months, but eventually the desire to grab more sleep in the morning was strong indeed. I'm not saying maybe I shouldn't have meditated but just what actually happened last time.

I can sit for hours in nature as well and it makes me happy, like little else, though formal meditation is much more difficult.

The xmas period they do the challenge in really only has one more day off than a normal week (xmas day unless you take vacation time) as they don't even overlap with the other day off in that period, which is new years day.

I think that is a sign of major problems in our culture (our culture of total work). Who has the time to do much besides work and sleep?

Every single day I see my sis and BIL come home from a long day of school and/or work. They prepare a simple dinner -- often tacos. They eat. Then they watch TV for a few hours and then go to sleep. My girlfriend does this too.

I totally understand the urge to live this way. They are tired, exhausted really. They are not all that into their work or school. Their social lives are sparse (friends moved away after college).

So work, TV, and sleep.

Work. TV. Sleep.

It is alluring in a way.


But I still grapple with the current pushing against me. Meditation is one way I do this.

[Gardenarian]

But I still grapple with the current pushing against me. Meditation is one way I do this.

More power to you.

People say TV is dead, but I recently read that Netflix accounts for most of the bandwidth use during evening hours. All this technology to watch a slightly modified form of TV? eh.

I find meditating more than 10 minutes or so at a time very difficult, but I do keep a regular meditation practice. The 11 hour challenge sounds like a good way to re-ground yourself - even if it's only to prove that, yes, you do have that one hour a day to do something more meaningful than work, TV, sleep.

[Ultralight]

More power to you.

People say TV is dead, but I recently read that Netflix accounts for most of the bandwidth use during evening hours. All this technology to watch a slightly modified form of TV? eh.

I find meditating more than 10 minutes or so at a time very difficult, but I do keep a regular meditation practice. The 11 hour challenge sounds like a good way to re-ground yourself - even if it's only to prove that, yes, you do have that one hour a day to do something more meaningful than work, TV, sleep.

Thanks!

And yup, I meant Netflix too. It is essentially just TV. haha You're right on that!

[Williamsmith]

Too many people are working harder than they want, at things they don't like to do.....Why? So they can afford the existence they don't care to live.

Bradford Angier

Regarding your "culture of total work"...... Perhaps you might enjoy my friends little channel if you've got 15 or 20 minutes to spare.


http://youtu.be/3ODu2RZIuXk

[Ultralight]

Too many people are working harder than they want, at things they don't like to do.....Why? So they can afford the existence they don't care to live.

Bradford Angier

Regarding your "culture of total work"...... Perhaps you might enjoy my friends little channel if you've got 15 or 20 minutes to spare.


http://youtu.be/3ODu2RZIuXk

I'll watch this after work this evening! Looks cool! Thanks. :)

[ApatheticNoMore]

Pushing back is good.

A while ago I heard how my coworkers spend their lives after work, they were discussing it. Oh the horror of it all ;)

Now it is NOT watching t.v. all the time. Whatever the demographic that does that, it is not this modest careful practically educated middle class white collar work force with kids. They mostly set pretty tight limits on t.v. allowances in their houses (even if it's just to set an example for their kids whatever). And yet people did put in an hour so a day on t.v. - usually after everything was done to fall asleep (and what do I do different, put in the hour on the internet or fall asleep reading instead).

Truthfully I think having kids seals the deal and seals one's fate, *IF* both parents are working full time, it pretty much guarantees there will be no time. So everyone's evening is pretty much: often time consuming commute home, make dinner, eat with family, spend time with kids and making sure homework is done etc., watching tiny bit of t.v. before bed (again not hours), sleep.


even if it's only to prove that, yes, you do have that one hour a day to do something more meaningful than work, TV, sleep.

provided you don't fall asleep meditating, actually only mornings remotely worked for that reason of course

[Ultralight]

Pushing back is good.

A while ago I heard how my coworkers spend their lives after work, they were discussing it. Oh the horror of it all ;)

Now it is NOT watching t.v. all the time. Whatever the demographic that does that, it is not this modest careful practically educated middle class white collar work force with kids. They mostly set pretty tight limits on t.v. allowances in their houses (even if it's just to set an example for their kids whatever). And yet people did put in an hour so a day on t.v. - usually after everything was done to fall asleep (and what do I do different, put in the hour on the internet or fall asleep reading instead).

Truthfully I think having kids seals the deal and seals one's fate, *IF* both parents are working full time, it pretty much guarantees there will be no time. So everyone's evening is pretty much: often time consuming commute home, make dinner, eat with family, spend time with kids and making sure homework is done etc., watching tiny bit of t.v. before bed (again not hours), sleep.



provided you don't fall asleep meditating, actually only mornings remotely worked for that reason of course

That makes me want a vasectomy. lol

[bae]

I think that is a sign of major problems in our culture (our culture of total work). Who has the time to do much besides work and sleep?


Most of the people in my community, but they are either remarkably good at time management, or they different priorities from the caricatures you present.

[Ultralight]

Most of the people in my community, but they are either remarkably good at time management, or they different priorities from the caricatures you present.

Good on them!

[bae]

That makes me want a vasectomy. lol

Having a kid freed up a ton of time in my life. I quite my job and became a stay-at-home Dad. Worked great.

[Ultralight]

Having a kid freed up a ton of time in my life. I quite my job and became a stay-at-home Dad. Worked great.

Good on you!

[herbgeek]

Most of the people in my community, but they are either remarkably good at time management, or they different priorities from the caricatures you present.

I would suspect that people who choose to live on a island, far away from the normal consumer temptations/lifestyles, might feel somewhat differently from the norm.

[Ultralight]

I would suspect that people who choose to live on a island, far away from the normal consumer temptations/lifestyles, might feel somewhat differently from the norm.

Well-said!

[mschrisgo2]

I had to reflect back on this a bit, to figure out that I have been meditating 60 minutes a day for about 8.5 years now. I do 40 minutes in the morning- the 40 minutes I didn't want to get out of bed, lol, is great for meditation; 10 minutes after I eat my lunch at work, and 10 minutes before I go to sleep at night, often with dogs cuddled up beside me.

And I think I can say that the studies are correct--> it has/does change my life. I start my day in serenity, use the lunch time to get re-centered so that the rest of my day flows well, and the evening in gratitude. Looking forward to those 10 minutes in the evening even gets me into bed on time most nights.

What did I have to give up? Cranky mornings, rough afternoons, and staying up late online, watching, reading, etc.

I recommend it.

[Mary B.]

I would suspect that people who choose to live on a island, far away from the normal consumer temptations/lifestyles, might feel somewhat differently from the norm.

I agree, to an extent. I also don't see the work/tv/sleep pattern among most of the people I know in urban areas either -- I'm sorry if that's most people's experience.

[bae]

I would suspect that people who choose to live on a island, far away from the normal consumer temptations/lifestyles, might feel somewhat differently from the norm.

That observation might present clues as to how to accomplish the task :-)

[Zoe Girl]

I think it sounds like a great challenge, I am going to try it. And it took me a couple days to respond because my job is freakin' huge right now. But as a long time meditator I have learned a lot about making practice happen in a busy life through many different changes (young kids, divorce, different jobs, etc).

One is to realize when you have a really busy or stressful life you need to plan practice differently than if you have stable hours and stress levels and control over your environment. I knew that there were times I really needed to sit but I had just left work and I had called social services that day or I had deadlines I was struggling with and it was quite difficult to switch. So I started with setting a timer for 20 or 30 minutes and walking first. It could be outside but sometimes indoors in a small area pacing was good as well. Then just standing meditation (there are benefits to sitting but it is not the only posture). I love spending 5 minutes going through a body scan in a standing position, spending a lot of time sinking into my feet. When the body feels pulled down then moving to sitting. I personally do chanting in my buddhist tradition at times, it is a great way to deal with intense recurring thought patterns. I actually still have those thoughts popping up but it is supportive to go back to a chant instead of trying for silence. Recorded guided meditations are also a good way to work with a very agitated mind.

What I have seen is that many people make meditation practice either really hard or too simple. Yes it is simple to sit still however there are very consistent things that come up while sitting. Those are things that teachers know about and can guide you through, we can get stuck in it being so simple that when we 'fail' or have a bad sit we get overly discouraged. That leads to some people have expectations that tell them this is way too hard to attempt. Really there are a lot of ways to keep practicing even in a very crazy and complicated modern life, but we need support and instruction most of the time.

[Ultralight]

My local Minimalist group started this challenge today.

I did my first session this morning -- 30 minutes.

Not bad...

[ApatheticNoMore]

good for you, I do like the idea of challenges to shake up routine it sticks in my mind, of course I'd probably just make up my own challenges and rebel against any done as a group as I have a rebel streak a mile wide (I don't know how deep). I also have some time off end of year amazingly enough, as out of nowhere work wants us to take some time at the end of the year, so I took some vacation and unpaid time (they are not suddenly giving us additional paid time off- we still live in the real world afterall and aren't getting any more than new years and xmas paid time off for the holidays, but even being encouraged to take unpaid time off is an unexpected surprise. So anyway I might even do the meditation though it might just be 1/2 hour or 1/2 hour at a time - an hour at a time woah).

And yes most people I know who work full time (stay at home moms or something maybe not), is pretty much drowning in work, commute, spend a few minutes with the family, sleep. It does take a lot to fight that pattern.

[Ultralight]

Well, it is the tenth day of the challenge. I am on schedule. 2 people basically dropped out of the challenge. One person is MIA. But a total of four of us are more or less on schedule at this point.

I will say this: I have learned a lot doing this challenge again. I have done it a few times already, but this time I have learned way more than the other times.

[Zoe Girl]

I am NOT on track for this at all. Great for you to do it. I am going on a New Year;s retreat and about to meditate after this.

I realized that I expect the holiday rush and business to affect everyone but me, and it has been busier than I expected. I think that having a group that can check in with each other on this goal must have been supportive.

I am interested in what you have learned if you want to share.

[Ultralight]

I am NOT on track for this at all. Great for you to do it. I am going on a New Year;s retreat and about to meditate after this.

I realized that I expect the holiday rush and business to affect everyone but me, and it has been busier than I expected. I think that having a group that can check in with each other on this goal must have been supportive.

I am interested in what you have learned if you want to share.

The holidays are tricky for most folks, for sure. I opt out almost entirely. So I did not get my life rocked as hard as most.

I learned a few things and relearned a few things too.

Relearned things:
-When I meditate often I feel a lot more compassionate toward others. The research on mindfulness meditation shows this, but I literally experience it.
-Toxic things in the media or in my personal life are easier to cope with, and they don't get to me as much, as long as I meditate often.
-I can control my thoughts and impulses better when meditation is a part of my daily life.
-I feel stress less too.

New things I learned:
-My mind is like a problem-solving machine. Give it a problem and it'll treat it like a needle in a haystack. I'll search and search through every piece of hay. If I don't find the needle my brain will just go back through the haystack again and again and again. But meditation helps me to take a break from this kind of mental rumination.
-The previous times I did this challenge I tried to squeeze it into my already busy life with all my bazillion hobbies. But this time I decided to take everything else down a notch or out of my life for these 11 days. So for these 11 days my life really revolved around meditation. This made my life simpler -- way simpler -- than it every could have been under my normal circumstances. And this was kind of nice! I still think there is wisdom to gain from this, but I will let that unfold over more time.

[Ultralight]

I just completed the challenge!