Because this is your personal practice, the exact frequency is entirely up to you. However, to notice the most benefits, we recommend meditating daily.
Consistency vs. Duration
Research shows that some of the greatest benefits of meditation come from the consistency of the practice, rather than the length of the session.
It is more beneficial to meditate every day for a short period of time than it is to meditate once a week for a longer period.
With daily consistency, your mindfulness skills grow stronger, and integrating mindfulness into your daily life becomes much more intuitive. That is when the real transformation begins!
How Long Should I Meditate?
However long you can meditate is the right length of time! Even if you don't feel very different at first, you are creating new neural pathways and changing your brain.
Start Small: If you can spare just one minute, once per day, start there!
Build Up Over Time: From there, you might try 3 minutes, then 5, 10, or 15. With practice, what used to feel like a long session will begin to feel comfortable and natural.
Set Up Mindfulness Reminders
If you need help remembering to practice each day, the Calm app can help! We highly recommend setting up a daily alert using our Mindfulness Reminders feature. To learn how to set this up, please see our guide here: How to Set Mindfulness & Bedtime Reminders on the Calm App
Ready to Begin?
Making a new habit stick takes time, but guided meditations can provide a reassuring rhythm and keep you on track.
Try "7 Days of Calm": Begin your daily practice right now with our 7 Days of Calm program. Each session is about 10 minutes and is designed to easily make mindfulness a daily habit.
Read Our Complete Guide: Want to learn more about the basics of posture, breathing, and clearing your mind? Check out our complete guide on the Calm Blog: How to Meditate in 5 Steps.