More and more of us are taking the plunge, but fewer are turning it into a magical daily habit. In fact, we get demotivated far too quickly. So, in this article, I’ll share with you the 5 mistakes to avoid if you want to get off to a good start with meditation.

1 – Not remembering why is a mistake when starting meditation

While we’re sitting in a meditation position and it feels uncomfortable, the next day, just the thought of sitting down again makes our backs ache and our minds whisper: oh no, not again…

It’s essential to remember why!

Indeed, if we forget why we’re starting mediation, if we forget the benefits it can bring us over the medium and long term, then we’ll be much more inclined to give up.

So, to get off to a good start in meditation, take a sheet of paper and write down why you want to start this new habit: what will it bring you?

Then, every time you drag your feet to go and meditate, reread this sheet of paper.

2 – Not establishing a habit

Sometimes you start out on a project, but you don’t really commit to a rhythm. You say to yourself: when I’ve got the time.

But… with a little creativity: we never have the time. It’s a well-known fact (laughs).

So, to get off to a good start with meditation, it’s essential that you decide to make it a habit, a real one.

Not necessarily every day, although meditation experts explain that for meditation to bring real benefits, you need to practice for at least 10 minutes every day.

But for a good habit to take root, we can start small.

So, if the idea of starting meditation with 10 minutes a day frightens you, as a first step you can start with either 10 minutes 3 times a week, or 3 minutes every day.

In fact, it’s all about getting to know yourself and setting rules accordingly. During the first week, set yourself the challenge of your choice: 3 times a week or 3 minutes a day, and see what happens. The following week, adjust your pace.

3 – Overdoing it

Starting too hard, i.e. meditating too often and/or for too long, can be a mistake that leads us to give up. This can make meditation difficult, uncomfortable and even boring.

So, to get off to a good start in meditation, don’t overdo it. On the contrary, listen to yourself and respect yourself.

Indeed, if you tend to run around and have no time for yourself, starting with 20 minutes every day may be a little too much.

Remember that practicing meditation is a new habit in life, so it’s not something you’re going to do for 15 days and then give up.

In other words, don’t ask too much of yourself, start slowly but surely.

4 – Not giving yourself time to learn is a mistake when it comes to getting started in meditation.

If we look at or read too many books on meditation, we’d like to be accomplished yogis in a snap.

But meditation requires a real apprenticeship.

And learning inevitably means a period when you’re just starting out, making mistakes and having doubts.

This is perfectly normal.

Getting off to a good start in meditation means accepting that, at first, it’s going to be hard work, because we’re still learning.

5 – Having too many expectations

It’s normal to have expectations at the outset. Indeed, we embark on the practice of meditation because we’re interested in its benefits.

But unfortunately, it’s not magic. Yes, just because I’ve meditated for 10 minutes doesn’t mean I’ve achieved clarity of mind or developed the compassion of the Dalai Lama.

Getting off to a good start in meditation means accepting that, like any other practice, we need patience and perseverance.

So, when you sit down to meditate, calm your expectations and just be in the moment. You’re meditating, and that’s wonderful. You’re taking care of yourself, you have a goal. Now leave the result aside and simply do what you have to do: meditate, right here, right now.

6 – Not ritualizing the moment is a mistake for a good start to meditation

Meditation is an act of great beauty. Unfortunately, as it’s not always an obvious moment, and we may have doubts or not feel like it, we may tend to “rush” the moment.

We sit down for 10 minutes and move on. Doing so is also a mistake that can lead us to give up.

Getting off to a good start in meditation means making your practice magical. It’s about finding a beautiful place in your home, a place where you feel good. It’s about sitting with grace, with joy. And it means thanking life before and after for this moment.

Indeed, let’s not live our meditation practice as just another line on our to-do list and make this moment magical.

7 – Not following your progress

Another mistake we make is to focus only on the destination, without enjoying the journey.

Meditation is like life: the most beautiful sight is not the moment you reach your destination, but all the time spent along the way, with its ups and downs.

That’s why, to get off to a good start in meditation, keep a meditation diary.

Write down the day’s date and, before the meditation, how you feel and what you’re looking forward to. Then, at the end, write down how you feel now and what you’ve learned from the session.

8 – It’s a mistake not to try out different methods if you want to get off to a good start in meditation.

There are many different methods of meditation, some of which focus on the breath, others on a mantra or sound, and still others are guided. You can lie down or sit.

So don’t hesitate to try out several at first, to see which ones you like best, which ones you’re most comfortable with.

Remember that your aim is not to become a great yogi, but simply to meditate in a joyful, good-humored way.

That’s why, to get off to a good start in meditation, allow yourself to experiment and don’t take yourself too seriously.

9 – Comparing yourself to others is a mistake if you want to get off to a good start in meditation.

When we begin a practice, we tend to read testimonials and opinions from people who are already practicing.

I invite you to read a few reviews and testimonials and then step away. Indeed, you may tend to compare yourself and your practice.

We’re not all the same. First of all, we don’t all start out for the same reasons. What’s more, we don’t all have the same daily lives or the same history.

So, your experience is the most important. The experiences of others are secondary.

In other words, to get off to a good start in meditation, trust yourself and listen only to yourself!

Remember, there’s no one right way to do it. There are as many as there are practitioners.

10 – Not making a real commitment

The biggest mistake you can make when you start meditation is not to make a real commitment, to say to yourself: I’ll give it a try and see.

Meditation isn’t about doing sit-ups (laughs), because you won’t see results in 2-3 weeks.

In fact, the effects are often not visible to us. Yet we become calmer and calmer, our thoughts less and less negative. But we don’t always realize it. In fact, it takes time, lots of time, to say to ourselves: that’s it, I’m more zen.

So, to get off to a good start in meditation, it’s essential that you make a real commitment:

“I, [first name, last name], pledge from this day forward to practice meditation.”

It doesn’t matter if it’s 1 minute or 1 hour. Just, every day, give yourself a time to sit with yourself.

Write this commitment on the first page of your meditation journal.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Meditation: 6 tips for practicing in complete serenity
Discover Getting started with yoga: tips for a worry-free start

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa (John Yates, PhD)

Culadasa’s book is a comprehensive guide to meditation, offering a step-by-step approach to developing mindfulness and achieving mental clarity. It provides practical instructions for people with different levels of meditation experience, making it an excellent resource for those looking to begin or deepen their meditation practice. This book combines traditional wisdom with modern neuroscience, offering a clear and systematic path for beginners and experienced meditators alike.

This book is extraordinary. If you’re a serious meditator interested in enlightenment, this is the guide to follow. It is a profound work of knowledge, wisdom and research. Please read it slowly, to allow your mind to absorb the knowledge it contains.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself