"I want to meditate, but I can’t do it properly of my own accord. "
So what is the biggest reason why meditation doesn’t go well?
A survey of 272 meditation practitioners: the biggest barrier is distraction (32.7%)… 61.6% of respondents have daily meditation, with morning and short sessions becoming the norm
What are people around the world meditating for, and how are they meditating right now? A ‘Meditation Practice Report 2026’ published by the meditation leader network Mindful Leader shows the picture. The survey, conducted in spring 2026 with 272 meditation practitioners, may not have a large sample size, but it is worth consulting because it captures the real habits and concerns of people who have trained for a long time.
Distraction beats lack of time
The most striking change is the ranking of barriers that block meditation. ‘Lack of time’, which had long been top, is overtaken by ‘too much distraction’, which rose to 32.7%. Lack of time came next at 29.3%.
It is not a confession that they do not have time to practise. It is that even if they sit down, their mind drifts and they cannot concentrate. In an era where smartphones and notifications slice attention into small pieces, the article shows that the task of meditation is shifting from ‘making time’ to ‘gathering scattered attention’.
Mornings, 10 to 20 minutes — meditation routines become the standard
The form of practice has become even more routine and shorter. 61.6% of respondents said they meditate every day, and 64.6% said they prefer the morning time slot. The length they sit for once is 10 to 20 minutes for 36.2%, and more than 20 minutes for 38.4%. Rather than sitting for long periods, short and regular practice that opens the day has taken hold.
In other words, repeating short gaps in the morning without elaborate preparation is solidifying into a sustainable habit.
Why meditate — emotional balance is No. 1
Motives for meditation are also changing. The reason respondents gave was emotional balance (81.2%), the highest figure, followed by contemplative practice (75.4%) and reduced stress (73.5%). Their attitude towards meditation is clear: it is not just about finding tools to ease stress, but about training emotions to stay even and looking inwards.
Quietly, keeping it open, and together — changes in the way people practise
The way people practise is also changing. Silent practice, sitting quietly without guided audio, has risen to 59%. ‘Open awareness’, which means noticing every experience as it arises rather than focusing on a particular target, has surged to 58.5%. Responses that they want support from the community rather than staying with solitary practice also came in at 25.0%, confirming a desire to practise together. The recent increase in wellness meet-ups and meditation-related events also appears to reflect that appetite.
The flow outlined in the report overlaps with the situation at home, too. The diagnosis that distraction is the biggest barrier explains why more urban meditation spaces and short morning meditation programmes are appearing, while the desire to practise together connects with the spread of group meditation and meditation communities. Meditation is becoming less a practice for a special kind of person and more an everyday skill for modern people to gather scattered attention.
Both those who want to meditate and those who want to teach meditation are continuing to increase. While demand for meditation experts keeps rising, the reality is that there are very few points of contact for people who are looking for those experts to actually meet them. It looks likely that more diversification of channels will be needed so that meditation, which is taking root as an everyday skill for modern people, can connect properly with the people who are looking to find meditation properly.
