The lights are probably the first vipassana jhana. It's really easy to get into and does not take years.
My advice is to note your butt off until you get the A&P. Don't restrict noting to the breath. Note whatever comes up. If at that moment you notice your weight on the cushion, note "pressure". If at that moment you notice something behind the eyelids, note "seeing". If there's a thought, "thinking". If there's doubt, "doubting". If there's a noise, "hearing".
In other words, do the "First Gear" practice from
here, exactly as written.
It doesn't have to be that precise. Don't agonize over what word you use to label what sensation. And if you do agonize, just note "agonizing" and move on to the next thing.
Do this out loud if it's convenient. Hearing your own voice will keep you honest and ensure that you don't slack off.
Also, do the practice when you're not formally meditating. Do it in the car. Do it while on line at the store. Do it while going for a walk. Just get in the habit of noting all the time.
Also, keep a journal of your meditation sits, recording how long you sat, what the technique was (in this case, noting), and what the results were in the approximate order they rose (e.g., "Five minutes into the sit, I settled into a groove where my mind wasn't distracted as much, and I was able to note that thoughts were occurring. I heard a noise in the other room, and there was a sensation in my chest about a quarter second afterward. About 15 or 20 minutes in, I started feeling really hot and then really cold, so I kept shifting my posture. I got distracted for the next 10 minutes or so, daydreaming about my job, but then I returned to the feeling of my body in the chair. I was able to note pretty persistently for the next 10 minutes until the alarm went off.") This way you or others here can track your progress and troubleshoot problems.