How to practice with a metronome without losing your mind
A simple method to build solid internal timing, not just follow a click.
Why it feels hard at first
Playing "in time" naturally, without a metronome, tends to speed up through the easy parts of a passage and slow down through the hard ones — it's an almost universal pattern for anyone learning. A metronome doesn't "know" a section is harder, so it exposes that problem immediately, which feels uncomfortable at first but is exactly the point.
A simple method that works
Pick a short passage (4 or 8 bars). Set the metronome to a clearly comfortable speed, even slower than you'd like. Play it 4 times in a row with no mistakes. Only then bump the tempo up 5-10% and repeat. It's slower than "practice at real speed and see what happens," but it builds the habit far more solidly.
Vary the accent, not just the speed
Always practicing with the accent on beat one builds dependency on that reference. Once a passage feels solid, try counting the off-beats instead of the downbeat — it forces you to actually feel the pulse, instead of just reacting to the click.