These are some practical suggestions from the teachings of Ramana Maharshi:

-- Practice investigation-meditation one hour or two every day (or more if you feel yourself fit to). You can sit down (with eyes closed, or open or half-closed). The mind must be introverted and kept active in its pursuit. When a thought rises in your mind (this will happen VERY often), you should always try to ask to yourself: 'Whose thought?' 'Whose mind?' Then the mind will calm and should remain the feeling 'I'. Do you see a blankness? Do not stop here. See for whom the blankness appears. He who engages in investigation starts holding on to himself, asking 'Who am I?' and the Self become clear to him. IMPORTANT: do everything GENTLY (no strain, no tension!).

NOTE: all kind of thoughts arise during investigation-meditation. It is but right. What lies hidden in you is brought out. Unless they rise up, how can they be destroyed? They therefore rise up in order to be extinguished in due course.

--- Once you are established in this 'I', you should try to hold it, to be aware of it during all your daily activities (even before going to sleep, and also as he first thing in the morning, immediately on getting up from bed: this ensures a serenity of mind and also a feeling of tirelessness throughout the day). This is the most important part of this method. You should never let your mind wander, but always try -gently- to trace back it to its source. Do not waste even a second in inattention, lethargy.

--- Food: Since food affects the mind, it should be kept pure. The best diet prescribed for someone who wants to engage in spiritual practices is pure food, in limited quantities: bread, fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. Animal foods and intoxicant drink (like alcohol) should be discarded. If the mind is not pure, the investigation becomes extremely difficult. One can gradually get accustomed to a pure diet.

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