[xavoy]

I use the iPhone app called 'Soto Timer' when I'm away. It's free and allows you to configure multiple periods (so you can sit, rest or kinhin, sit, rest or kinhin etc)

Sitting every day is most important. There is no substitute for this. A good way to convince yourself of the benefits, and to reinvigorate your practice, is to throw yourself into the deep end and do a retreat. The 'container' of a 'retreat' (retreat is an inadequate word, if you've ever done a proper retreat you'll know why) allows you to sit for extended periods and remain mindful when doing other simple activities like cutting food for your lunch.

As you said though, meditation is a 'practice'. There is no 'attainment' - if you're not practicing, the benefits are basically nil. As such, you need to practice for it to be worthwhile.

The best time to sit is first thing in the morning. Set your alarm, get out of bed (no excuses) and sit down. This is good for two reasons. 1) if you do nothing else all day, at least you've done your meditation and 2) as you've not had a chance to distract yourself yet, you're more likely to remain present. Of course you'll distract yourself with your plans for your day and convince yourself that you don't have time for this, that you're too tired, but these are just stories like all the others you tell yourself. Let them go, and return to your breath, again and again and again.

[ypcx]

This is true. To sit right after getting out of bed in the morning, that actually might be the only chance for a regular practice, in this hectic material world. One usually has to visit the bathroom, and that can be enough for the day thoughts and habits to fully kick in - one grabs a tea, a piece of dark organic chocolate, talks with their partner, pets their dog - realizing few hours later or sometime during the day (if at all), that he actually skipped a sitting, but despite that, morning is most probably the best time. I know, once the initial one or two-week period is fought through, then the energies are different and practicing is easier ... at least until life creates its next whirlpool day and kicks one off the track. Waves. Anyway. Meditation is the art of coming back after losing track, in micro (the practice) and in macro (the waves), and the great thing is, that every next wave is better, because one puts to use what he has learnt before.