Meditation Preparation

I have a habit of distracting myself sometimes when I try to get into a mediation so I've found a few short, handy, simple, pre-meditations to use to get myself in the state of mind I want to be in. I have a few favorites but I'm always looking for more! What do you do?

This is my most-used one:
Breathe slowly and deeply. Take any stray thoughts that come your way, one-by-one, and fold them into a little sail boat, and on your slow exhale, fill their sails with your breath and let them go into the distance. Do this until your thoughts are no longer your primary focus.

And this is my other favorite (also can be used as a calming tool)
Picture your body in your mind, all the emotions and feelings as color within you. Breathe in slowly and deeply, and on the exhale, picture your breath as colored smoke. Keep breathing until your breath is clear.

I have a fixed ritual: I make a cup of tea, put on my robe, sit down, drink the tea (sometimes I actually include the act of tea drinking in the meditation itself) - by the time I'm done with the tea I'm already in the right mood and good to go

I subcribe to many methods .
Many difrent religious and secular ways

To stop I use
5 things u see (presently where ur at in the moment )
3 things you hear
1 thing u smell.

I have been doing this for years . As I practiced I began to do them more ... Ground ly ..er as in do them ... Try... To bundle them up so it like meditation time ... Stop time ... Need a break time ... I see find 5 things and... 3 things I hear and ... Then 1 smell ... I try to take that in as much as possible .it calms my monkey mind .. So to speak and gives him somthimg to do. I've done it so many times it feels like I'm dropping reality for a bit , not ignoring it but just stepping away from all the things I've put in my head and have let in by just life and time. Let's face it this world will try to gain your attention with many difrent ways...even buy time on tv... This to me is a "advertisement " for nature. I hone it to nature , some times it's family based ...farm based or fact based. It's so useful! Hope it helps 5 3 1 see hear smell. Your chooses and how long is to you ! Cheers and happy meditation!