Meditation for People Who Don't Have Time to Meditate
★★★★★
“I feel so much happier and also lighter, I’m extremely GRATEFUL I read this! But more importantly, this book actually inspired me to start meditating every day (and I was not someone who ever thought I’d say that!)”
—Roseanne C.
You don't need hours of free time or a quiet mountaintop to find peace. All you need is this book and 5 minutes.
I wrote Simple Serenity for everyone who thinks they don't have time to meditate - which, let's be honest, is most of us.
After years of believing meditation required perfect conditions and endless free time, I discovered something life-changing: five minutes is enough.
This book came from my own desperate need for peace during one of the hardest seasons of my life. When my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and barely keeping it together. I needed something that would actually work in real life - not on a mountaintop, but in my messy, chaotic, beautiful everyday world.
Simple Serenity offers 30 guided meditations specifically created for people like us - the ones juggling work deadlines and school pickups, the caregivers and the overwhelmed, the people who need peace but can't find an hour to sit in silence. Each meditation takes just five minutes, because that's what actually fits into real life.
You'll find meditations for every situation: morning practices to start your day with calm, evening meditations to help you sleep, breathing exercises for moments of panic, and gentle practices for when grief or stress feel too heavy to carry alone. There are meditations you can do in your car, at your desk, or in bed when sleep won't come.
The truth is, you don't need perfect conditions to find peace. You don't need a quiet space or special cushions or hours of free time. You just need five minutes and the willingness to give yourself that small gift of stillness.
This isn't about becoming a meditation expert - it's about finding moments of serenity in the life you're already living, exactly as it is.
Why 5-Minute Meditations Work Better Than Long Sessions
Most people think they need 20-30 minutes to meditate properly, but research shows that just five minutes of daily meditation can reduce stress, lower anxiety, and improve sleep quality. The secret isn't length - it's consistency. When meditation fits easily into your day, you actually do it. These short practices are designed for real life, not perfect conditions.
Perfect for Beginners and Busy People
If you've tried meditation before and felt like you were "doing it wrong," this book is for you. Each meditation includes simple, step-by-step guidance that works whether you're completely new to meditation or someone who's struggled to maintain a consistent practice. No experience required - just five minutes and a willingness to pause.
Meditations for Every Situation and Mood
Simple Serenity includes 30 different meditations organized by what you need most: morning energy, evening calm, anxiety relief, emotional healing, and spiritual connection. Whether you're dealing with a stressful work situation, struggling with sleep, or navigating a difficult life transition, you'll find a meditation designed specifically for that moment.
From Overwhelmed Caregiver to Meditation Teacher
I started meditating out of desperation when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I was overwhelmed, anxious, and running on empty. Five minutes of daily meditation didn't just help me cope - it transformed how I handle stress and find peace in chaos. This book shares the exact practices that carried me through that difficult time and continue to ground me today.
This isn't just another meditation book. It's your personal guide to unlocking moments of peace in a chaotic world.
Simple Serenity: Five-Minute Meditations for Everyday Life
by Josie Robinson
The Story Behind The Book
The truth is, this book was inspired by my mom.
For the past couple years, the most popular post on my website has been this five-minute gratitude meditation I created for people to use in the morning or evening as a way to start or end their day on a positive note.
Because of that one post, I’ve had so many people reach out to me and ask if I had any more meditations just like it.
The truth is, I had SO many meditations just like it because I’ve been needing them myself as these last few years have been extremely difficult for me.
Pandemics aside, I turned to meditation years ago when my mom got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
The situation with my mom triggered me in a way I’d never experienced before, and I needed something to help me calm down and deal with everything I was feeling—so I turned to meditation.
I started with just five minutes a day because I had read somewhere that’s the minimum amount of time you need to experience the stress-relieving benefits of meditation, and because that’s all the time I had to spare.
Not going to lie, it was really hard at first. But then it got a lot better.
From spending just a few minutes each day in meditation, my anxiety began to drop and I started to feel more calm. My sleep also improved, and I fell asleep quicker and woke up more rested.
But the biggest benefit was that meditation helped me get through an extremely difficult time of my life.
It’s been over five years now since I started consistently meditating, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best habits I’ve added to my life, along with the daily practice of gratitude.
That’s why I wrote Simple Serenity: Five-Minute Meditations for Everyday Life, to help others deal with the difficult seasons of life—or just to offer a few quick minutes to reset and recharge each day.
I truly hope you enjoy it, and it helps you find a little serenity in your own life. ❤
・Questions Readers Often Ask ・
How should I use the 30 meditations?
I recommend doing one meditation per day for 30 days - that's the perfect amount of time to experience the stress-relief benefits and establish a sustainable meditation habit.
This 30-day approach is something I recommend in all my books because that's where the real magic happens. Thirty days aligns with natural cycles and is the sweet spot for creating lasting change and forming new habits.
After your initial 30 days, you can return to your favorites, repeat the cycle, or mix and match based on what you need each day.
Do I really need to meditate every day?
For the first 30 days, daily practice gives you the best results and helps build the habit. But life is real, and missing a day here and there won't ruin your progress. The key is consistency over perfection.
Even three or four times a week can make a significant difference in your stress levels and overall well-being.
What if I've never meditated before?
Perfect! This book is designed specifically for beginners. Each meditation includes step-by-step guidance, and you don't need any special equipment, apps, or experience. If you can breathe and follow simple instructions, you can do these meditations. Many complete beginners tell me these practices helped them finally "get" meditation.
Can I really see results in just 5 minutes?
Absolutely. Research shows that even short meditations can reduce stress hormones, lower anxiety, and improve focus. I've heard from readers who notice better sleep within the first week and feel calmer during stressful situations after just a few days of practice. Five minutes is enough to shift your nervous system from stress to calm.
What if my mind won't stop racing during meditation?
That's completely normal and doesn't mean you're doing it wrong! A busy mind is exactly why you need meditation. These practices are designed to work even when your thoughts feel chaotic. The goal isn't to stop thinking - it's to find moments of peace despite the mental chatter.
Do I need a quiet space to meditate?
Not for all of them! I wrote these meditations for real life, and many of the breathing exercises and visualization practices can be done anywhere you have five minutes - at your desk, during lunch breaks, or even in a busy hospital waiting room.
However, some of the deeper relaxation and sleep meditations are designed to make you feel drowsy, so you'll want to be somewhere safe and comfortable for those (definitely not while driving!).
The book clearly indicates which meditations are perfect for anywhere and which are best for quiet, restful spaces. Peace comes from within, not from perfect conditions.