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Back to Basics: How Long Should I Meditate? And How Often?
Whether you’re just getting started, or you’re a long-time practitioner who’s struggling, sometimes the simplest questions are the most confusing.
With more time on our hands than ever before, many people are trying new things these days, including meditation. When you Google meditation, though, the results you get can be not just contradictory but downright confusing.
Even the easiest questions have multiple answers. How long should I meditate? You’ll find answers from everyone and their brother, ranging from one minute to an hour to several hours. How often should I meditate? Again, you’ll find a range from whenever you feel like it to several times a day.
When you’re just getting started, this can create so much doubt and confusion that you might not bother to try. You’d rather have a clear answer before you begin, and since you can’t find one, it’s easier not to start.
And if you’ve been practicing for a while, but are struggling, the multitude of answers you find can make you question if the reason for your struggle is that you’re not meditating for the right amount of time or too often or not often enough.
