WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO MEDITATE?

GM sistahs,

I was having a conversation with a group member about meditation and she asked an interesting question…

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO MEDITATE?

The simple answer is: The best time is different for everyone and depends upon what your reasons are, and what you are trying to get out of meditation.

For your experience to be more natural and beneficial to you, the best time is a time that is convenient for your lifestyle. I used to meditate every morning on the train, on my way to work, because that was the only time I had.

WHY ARE YOU MEDITATING?

For Increased Focus and Concentration:

If you’re using meditation as a way to boost your focus and concentration for the day ahead, the best time to do that is first thing in the morning. If you can meditate even before breakfast, then that’s even better. How you start the day sets the tone of the day, so beginning with meditation is a great way to be more mindful, focused, and relaxed throughout the day.

For Work-Related Stress Relief:

Once you’ve mastered meditation without distractions or high levels of stress, you can begin to use your meditation techniques even in the middle of your busy office to take just a few minutes to re-center yourself and be able to relieve the stress that’s already building up from the morning.

Whether you find a quiet place to meditate during part of your lunch break or simply close your eyes and breathe at your desk for a few minutes, meditating throughout the day can be the best time to meditate for greatest benefits and will help you avoid getting overwhelmed.

You may also choose to meditate at the end of the workday to relieve stress that came throughout the day. This can be a good way to transition from work to home so that you’re not bringing all the stress of the office into your home. Ideally, you’ll want to meditate as soon as you get home from work and release all your negative thoughts so you can then enjoy your evening.

For Falling Asleep

Because most meditation techniques are designed to help you become more aware and therefore more awake, you have to be careful to not use the same technique you’re using to stay focused at work to help you fall asleep. However, if this is your goal with meditation is to help you fall asleep quickly, then you’ll want to do this either right before bed or while in bed.

If you’re not using a sleep-inducing meditation technique, then you need to avoid meditating within an hour of going to bed, since you don’t want your body to associate normal meditation with falling asleep. By choosing the right technique for the right time of the day, however, you can enjoy the best time to meditate for greatest benefits that will help you wake up in the morning and those that will help you fall asleep.

(https://www.meditationlifeskills.com/best-time-to-meditate-for-greatest-benefits/)