About meditation and concentration

Thanks! Another quick question, what can I do to stay mindful and conscious throughout the day? It takes a lot of energy for now (and Instructor says it should) and I'm having a hard time maintaining it. Are there any techniques you can suggest?

Pace yourself so you don't become exhausted and give up,

Find bad habits that waste energy and stop them (too much tv, internet, bad friends, etc)

Eat good quality food (avoid processed or corporate food).

Drink lots of clean water. Avoid sugar.

Get out in nature and let nature nourish you.

Exercise regularly.

Perform mantras, runic exercises, pranayamas, rites, etc. to acquire more energy from nature,

The cumulative effect of these actions will make a difference.

Thank you Alexis for these tips. You mention along with bad habits that wastes energy "bad people". I was wondering what you meant by bad people. But then came across this quote by Master Samael Aun Weor "Negative people, victims of negative emotions, become more contagious than viruses and bacteria. Grouchy people, who are always filled with envy, who are always obnoxious at any given moment, people who are filled with morbid minds at any given time, people who suffer deliriums of persecution, who say they are bewitched, who say that are hated by everybody, are negative and infect the groups; they infect others."

Is this along the lines of what you meant by 'bad people', people that frequently exhibit outwardly the negative emotions/energy associated with the 7 vices (anger, envy, lust, greed, gluttony, pride, laziness) and minds that are filled with delusions and paranoia? Basically people that drains energy from a person at their current level (or wastes energy on entertaining delusional ideas)?

Pace yourself so you don't become exhausted and give up,

Find bad habits that waste energy and stop them (too much tv, internet, bad friends, etc)

Eat good quality food (avoid processed or corporate food).

Drink lots of clean water. Avoid sugar.

Get out in nature and let nature nourish you.

Exercise regularly.

Perform mantras, runic exercises, pranayamas, rites, etc. to acquire more energy from nature,

The cumulative effect of these actions will make a difference.

Thanks Alexis, I forgot to ask you then, how does one pace himself when it comes to meditation and mindfulness? Do we stop being mindful to rest or do we keep going while minimizing the expectations?