Integrating meditation into daily life

[Maysun]

I have no problem finding time to do ´sit´ meditation, for instance in the morning before going to school/work.
However, I kind of feel like there is not much point in doing that type of meditation and not integrate meditation into the rest of your life, by for instance trying to walk consciously, eat with attention etc.
If I only do 10 mins of something in the morning, then I will still run around both literally and in my mind after that, unless I (very often) try to do things consciously also.
But sometimes I hear stories of other people that say they only do ´sit´ meditation at set times, like in the morning and their lives are changed or somehow improved.

So, I am wondering what you think of this. Is meditation useful if you only do it once or twice a day? Can meditation also work well if you´d only try to do some stuff consciously everyday and not sit? Is meditation a state of mind or something that runs through all your activities? How can sit meditation in the morning positively influence the rest of the day?

I hope you know what I mean.

[frepie]

I will give my account based on my personal experience. I have a really practical view of the meditation practice.

I meditate formally 1 or 2 times a day, totalling between 1 and 2 hours a day but I almost never manage to be mindful in my daily activities. Yet, with my daily practice, mindfulness creeps into all aspects of my life. Whether it is while having an argument with my wife or when being massaged by my physiotherapist or when I wash the dishes, I am more and more present to what life shoves at me.  I no longer need to listen to music or read a book when on the bus for a long time. My anger is way more manageable, and my overall mood is more stable.
Conclusion: Even when practised only formally, meditation is valuable. But remaining mindful all day is much better, though more difficult to put in practice, at least, from my perspective.

[Matthew]

Meditation is a state of mind AND something that can be brought to bear on all your daily activities. Actually mindfulness is a better word than meditation to use.

The PRACTICE you do in the formal sitting time is what teaches/gives insight into mindfulness that you may then apply to life .. or not .. your choice, but if you just apply it to the practice it does not lead to the same change or as effective change.

[Blue]

This is a wonderful question Maysun!  Yes, bring meditation as much as you can into daily life.  You do this by being in the moment, by being concious of the things you are doing, or maybe simply by always keeping a small part of your attention on your breathe or body sensations. 

If you really want to travel fast this is how it is done, by doing it all the time.

-d

[Morning Dew]

However, I kind of feel like there is not much point in doing that type of meditation and not integrate meditation into the rest of your life, by for instance trying to walk consciously, eat with attention etc.

Good man Maysun
Two words come to the mind after reading your words
Satipatthana Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html

May you be happy and able toclearly comprehand each and every arising and passing phenomena