How long do I have to meditate?
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anonymous Asks ...
How long do you have to meditate for every day to get a lasting stress beating effect? I am very stressed out and I am willing to try meditation since everyone tells me how well it works. I do not really relish the thought of sitting and doing nothing so I would like to do it for as little time each day as possible. I am having trouble getting reliable information on how much is enough?
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Mark Hughes Says ...
There isn't a set length because everyone is different, so you'll have to try it and see. However, you may be surprised at how even a small amount can help.
What you want to be careful of is setting yourself up for more stress! So take it easy, and trust your own sense of this. Don't try and do too much, because you think more is better and so on. Give yourself very easily achievable goals, and if you miss them, move them down a notch (or by half).
Just sitting and watching your breathing for a few seconds each day, you might start to notice changes in your body. I suggest you don't *try* to relax, but just notice.
Notice mostly how you are in your body, keep coming back to the breath, but noticing and allowing any thoughts, sensations, feelings without trying to change them, and revisiting the breath.
A little and often works best for me, that or something else might work for you. And don't think you have to sit in a particular way. Experiment and find what works for you. These days I don't meditate so much and mainly find mindfulness in different activities, always though I focus on my sensations, feelings and letting go of thoughts. Good luck!
