How many minutes should you meditate daily?

Written by
Robert Kelly
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.The amount of time you should meditate daily is determined by your experience and goals. Short sessions of two minutes are most useful for beginners, while advanced practitioners can meditate for twenty minutes. It is more important to be consistent than to meditate for a certain number of minutes or hours if you wish to build a habit that lasts.
The time required for meditation is dependent upon the level of practice. A beginner should start with as little time as possible to avoid feeling overwhelmed. At the intermediate stage of practice, you may begin to see benefits from ten minutes of meditation a day. More experienced and long-term meditators are often at the
Personal energy levels and schedules greatly influence the ideal duration. Morning times are best for many before the various daily demands come into play. Evening sessions serve well for taking stock of the day's events. Set the times according to your
Experience Level
- Beginners: 2-5 minutes avoids mental fatigue
- Intermediate: 10 minutes builds neural pathways
- Advanced: 20+ minutes deepens awareness states
Primary Goals
- Stress relief: 5 minutes reduces cortisol
- Focus improvement: 10 minutes enhances concentration
- Emotional regulation: 15 minutes strengthens response control
Time Availability
- Busy schedules: Micro-sessions throughout the day
- Flexible routines: Single morning/evening blocks
- Retreat periods: Extended 30+ minute practices
Monitor your progress without evaluation by employing simplicity in your tracking process. Using only a calendar, check off scheduled sessions without determining quality levels after each session. Gradually observe improvement in mental clarity. Gradually observe improvements in emotional regulation. Your natural inclination to observe progress indicates that your practice is effective.
Modify your meditation time when you're experiencing plateaus or changes in your life. For example, if you are getting ready to travel, you may want shorter meditations. In contrast, on the actual vacation, you might wish to longer meditation time. Honor your own body's needs and be true to the energy fluctuations you feel.
Read the full article: How to Meditate Daily: 10 Essential Steps