Four Tips for Sticking to a Meditation Practice (Carly Hunt)

Having trouble sitting still? Here are some suggestions from a meditation researcher.

Have you heard about the many health benefits of meditation—but find yourself struggling to start or keep up a meditation practice?

You’re not alone. Despite how meditation instructions are usually simple (for example, to maintain a gentle focus on the breath), research suggests that new and experienced meditators alike face barriers to practice.
​
For instance, a study I published with colleagues in 2020 found that new meditators often question whether meditation will in fact be beneficial, doubt whether they’re meditating correctly, struggle to find space and time for practice, and sense that meditation conflicts with their cultural or familial norms. After people complete a formal meditation course, their meditation frequency drops; even experienced meditators describe how hard it is to face difficult feelings that can arise in meditation, like anxiety. more...