Can you meditate while driving?

Yes, you can "meditate" while driving— if by "meditation" you're referring to practicing mindfulness.

• While driving, you could pay attention to a whole range of different experiences. For example, you could notice the sensation of hands holding the steering wheel, the contact of legs with the seat or the pressure of the feet on the accelerator or brake pedals.
• You can choose to notice what's happening in the visual field and in the mind — seeing the flow of traffic traveling in the opposite direction, watching traffic signals changing from green to red and observing any reactions in the mind like agitation, anger or a desire to go faster, etc.

The key with any type of mindfulness is to make sure the type is appropriate to the circumstances. While driving, for example, it obviously wouldn't be a good idea to close your eyes and stay focused solely on the breath. But an overall, more broad-based mindfulness could actually enhance driving skills.

You can check out several guided meditations on driving and commuting in the Ten Percent Happier app:

• Driving | Alexis Santos: Snap back from distracted driving and build awareness. This guided meditation can safely be done while you're on the road.
• On The Way To Work | Jay Michaelson: Commuting is one of the most stressful activities we engage in. Jay helps you appreciate your daily commute instead of rushing through it.
• Terrible Traffic | Anushka Fernandopulle: Traffic can get rough, but it doesn’t have to ruin your day. Try this mindfulness practice the next time you’re in the thick of your commute.

Commuting | Alexis Santos: Transform the way you get from point A to point B in this session, turning the obstacle course into perfect terrain for meditation practice.