Over the years of teaching Reiki to lots of busy people, I’ve done my best to emphasize that it’s easy to make the practice fit, regardless of how crazy life may be. When engaging in self-care activities, it makes much more sense to me to find modalities that bend and flex to fit our needs rather than trying to stuff ourselves into some dogmatic box. 

I’ve met many folks who abandoned their Reiki practices after being instructed to spend 30-60 minutes every day in self-treatment. Seriously, who has that luxury on a consistent basis? I do believe it is crucial to carve out time for ourselves and the activities that nourish us and I get that investing time in spiritual practice saves time in the long run. But let’s be realistic here! Many people are going to miss the myriad benefits of Reiki if they believe an hour is required every day. 

My philosophy is that any application, no matter how brief, is better than no application at all. Just like saving $1 every day adds up over time, every drop of Reiki contributes to wellness. I advise students to take advantage of any 5- or 10-minute gaps in their days, of time spent waiting in line or on hold with customer service, and the moments before drifting off to sleep. It’s possible to turn on the flow of Reiki while you’re meditating, bathing, exercising, cooking, or even watching TV. 

Last night in class, a student shared that her previously dedicated Reiki time had been usurped by stressful life events. As a result, she was grabbing precious moments here and there, whenever she could. She called it her Reiki Tic Tacs. Those Tic Tac breaks were keeping her going. 

I just love the analogy! Sure, it’s wonderful to enjoy a Reiki feast from time to time and really drop in deeply and soak up the healing vibes. It’s great to have a consistent Reiki breakfast where I can start my day off with a boost of energy. And just like when I don’t have time for a proper meal, I can toss a handful of nuts in my mouth as I walk out the door, Reiki “snacks” will sustain me for several hours. Popping Tic Tacs, if that’s all that’s available, can help me get through a rough patch until I can nourish myself more thoroughly.

There are many ways to practice Reiki. Take advantage of any and every opportunity to give yourself a healing dose as frequently as you can. And when life conspires to give you a solid chunk of time, take advantage of that too. Find what works for you in each moment and adapt when you need to. At the end of the day, all those Reiki snacks will have accumulated and you’ll be that much closer to your goals.