Quote Originally Posted by Elaol View Post
I keep losing focus. I concentrate on sight, then hearing and then touch, just as explained, but on the second cycle my thoughts start to wander, and I never get that sleepy feeling. What am I doing wrong?
From your description, it sounds like you are still on the faster cycles when this happens, but either way the following suggestion would be step 1 before the faster cycles and slower cycles. This is nothing official, but I have been using SSILD for over a year and have a hunch on what may help you. The following should make it easier to keep focused on the progression through the cycles. Basically you switch between the senses faster as a kind of warm up to doing the regular faster and slower SSILD cycle. Focus on sight during 2 breaths, hearing during the next 2 breaths, then touch with the next 2 breaths. Repeat several times until it feels almost automatic and then you can progress to the regular 15-20 second fast cycles before going on to the longer ones. You could even try one breath each, but I would say try 2 first. You can also practice during the day, but it sounds like sleepiness is not the problem.

If your mind is starting to wander to thoughts of waking life problems, take a moment to write them down on a to do list or to assure yourself that those problems are already being addressed, whichever is the case.