Shoot for the hour. It really takes the mind about 25-30 minutes to really settle. It’s a lot like impurities settling out of a glass of water. Just being on the cushion and not allowing your mind to kick up other detritus by doing willful activity allows it to move into a deeper state of calm. You almost don’t even have to do any “concentration” work those first 30 minutes. It happens almost on it’s own.

After that first 30 minutes, you’re going to find that it’s much easier to follow what ever meditation object you’ve selected. Your thoughts race less and the object is more stable. You are also going to feel much much better at the end of the session.

But! 90 minutes is really the sweet spot. In Zen temples, they used to meditate for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn down - about 45 minutes a piece. I think the Tibetans have a similar time standard. After an hour, provided that you’ve sat straight through without moving, piti (a kind of energy current that can sometimes be exhilarating) starts to arise. Depending on the level of your practice, your body might start shaking, you might feel like you want to jump up off the cushion, or, if you’re advanced, you can surf that current, relax into it, and let it dissolve into incredible bliss.

Doesn’t 90 minutes sound great? Do 90 once you’re able to. But start with 60. Long unbroken sitting is always better than short intermittent sits.

Shoot for the hour. It takes the mind about 25–30 minutes to really settle. It’s a lot like impurities settling out of a glass of water. Just being on the cushion and not allowing your mind to kick up other detritus by doing willful activity allows it to move into a deeper state of calm. You almost don’t even have to do any “concentration” work those first 30 minutes. It happens almost on its own.

After that first 30 minutes, you’re going to find that it’s much easier to follow whatever meditation object you’ve selected. Your thoughts race less and the object is more stable. You are also going to feel much, much better at the end of the session.

But! 90 minutes is really the sweet spot. In Zen temples, they used to meditate for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn down - about 45 minutes a piece. I think the Tibetans have a similar time standard. After an hour, provided that you’ve sat straight through without moving, piti (a kind of energy current that can sometimes be exhilarating) starts to arise. Depending on the level of your practice, your body might start shaking, you might feel like you want to jump up off the cushion, or, if you’re advanced, you can surf that current, relax into it, and let it dissolve into incredible bliss.

Doesn’t 90 minutes sound great? Do 90 once you’re able to. But start with 60. Long unbroken sitting is always better than short intermittent sits.