If you are about to start your meditation practices, you probably want to know the best time to meditate, why it’s essential, and the different techniques available.
Meditation is a set of powerful practices that boost your mental, emotional, and overall health.
They help you to focus on the present moment and identify your emotions. This is why people meditate to relax, focus, and control anxiety.
Research shows meditation reduces stress. Other studies confirm it promotes emotional health. Finally, reports agree it’s an excellent way to boost your self-awareness.
Since meditation offers many benefits to your overall well-being, it’s vital to know the best time to perform it and the different meditation techniques for your needs.
So, in this post, we’ll discuss the best time of day to meditate and the different meditation practices to adopt for varying periods of the day. Let’s begin.
When Is the Best Time to Meditate?
The best time to meditate varies from person to person, depending on your unique lifestyle and the goals you aim to achieve.
Nevertheless, specific periods of the day are recommended for best results. Let’s discuss them.
Morning
You feel refreshed in the morning, with less intrusive thoughts, making it the best time of day to meditate.
Also, since most mornings are often quiet before the day’s activities start, it’s the best time to find calm. So you can focus on your meditation and get the most from it.
Meditating in the morning also helps you to set the tone for the rest of the day. Starting your day with a calm and positive mindset will reduce stress and anxiety, influencing your day positively.
While morning meditation can be challenging when you have a hectic schedule, you can make the most of it by limiting your meditation to short conscious breaths.
You can practice morning meditation at different times, depending on your schedule. However, some experts recommend specific periods in the morning to perform it.
For example, Monique Derfuss, a gong practitioner and KRI-certified kundalini yoga instructor, says the best time to meditate and practice yoga is during the ambrosial hours, which is two and a half hours before sunrise.
According to him, this period of the day is most suitable for spirituality and calmness.
Erin Doppelt, another meditation expert, says 3 to 6 a.m. is the best time to connect to the universe through meditation.
So, when is the best time to meditate? The best time to meditate in the morning is the most convenient period for you.
It’s best to understand your rhythm, whether it’s meditating first thing in the morning, before breakfast, or after your bath.
Lunch
Lunch breaks were made for a reason— to recharge, and meditation helps you do precisely that.
Amidst deadlines, workplace demands, and different activities to tick off your to-do list, setting aside time to meditate can be incredibly helpful.
You can let go of work-associated anxiety during lunchtime to refocus after your break.
So, rather than work from an anxious state, you’ll work with a clear and organised mind, boosting your productivity. Mindfulness at work also helps to maintain an overall positive attitude.
Regardless of the pressure and stress you experience, you’ll possess a positive outlook and execute your responsibilities calmly, enabling you to control the pressure and deliver your roles effectively.
So, if you often feel stressed at work, meditating at lunchtime is a great way to eliminate all worries, let go of stress, and refocus.
It goes a long way in boosting your workflow and productivity. First, however, ensure to meditate in a quiet place.
This may require you to leave your desk and move to an empty room to concentrate better.
After Work
Workplace stress statistics states 94% of workers report feeling stressed at work. And it’s no surprise.
Many people spend most of their time doing rigorous and mentally-draining jobs that leave them stressed and anxious. In cases like this, meditation is an excellent coping strategy.
It relaxes and de-stresses. As a result, it’s perfect for people who lead demanding jobs and hope to refresh and revitalise at home.
Meditating after work is also a great way to set a strict boundary between work and personal life.
It’s your way of leaving the stress and work-related anxieties at the door to stay fully present at home.
So, if you struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance or like to feel rejuvenated after a long day, meditating after work may be the best time of day to meditate.
Before a Workout
Combining meditation with a workout is helpful for your body and mind. These two practices boost oxygen and blood flow to your brain, promoting neurogenesis and improving focus and concentration.
Generally, workouts and exercises help you sleep better, stay active and improve your cognitive abilities.
In addition, meditating before exercises helps you to stay calm and maintain concentration if you are anxious or restless before your session.
So, before you exercise, consider a few minutes of meditation. It will help you let go of any disturbing thoughts and worries to stay present in the moment.
Being fully present during your workout session boosts your performance and enables you to achieve the best results with your workout.
During Your Workout
Research reveals combining exercises and meditation reduces depression. This benefit, combined with concentration improvement and a calm mindset, is why meditating during your workout is a healthy choice.
Many people think meditation has to be practised in a seated position, but it isn’t always the case.
Instead, you can meditate while moving your body and perform different exercises like running, jogging, or swimming.
Aerobic activities naturally put you in a meditative state, and you can maximise this position to meditate. So, try to stay in the moment when exercising.
Rather than let your thoughts wander, be conscious of every breath. It may be a bit challenging initially, but constant practice will make it a habit.
Interestingly, it can influence every other activity you do. Soon, you’ll realise you have no difficulty staying in the moment when executing your daily activities.
After a Workout
Post-workout meditation influences the way your body responds to exercises. Naturally, exercises put your body under significant stress, producing cortisol, the stress hormone.
Cortisol is healthy for the body. At a low level, it improves your mood and facilitates weight loss.
However, high cortisol can trigger anxiety and stress and increase blood sugar levels. Thankfully, meditating post-workout controls your stress and keeps your body and mind relatively calm.
Post-workout meditation also speeds up your recovery. According to a study, controlling your mind can help control your feelings.
In the research, participants were poked with a heated probe and asked to use different pain control methods to alleviate their pain.
At the end of the study, those who used meditation to control their pain experienced less pain than others. Meditation puts you in charge of your mind.
Just as you can control your thoughts and anxiety by training your mind to stay in the present, you can control your mind to feel less pain after a workout session.
Meditation also relaxes your body naturally, relieving your pain further.
If you often feel stressed or experience general body pain after a workout, post-workout is the best time to meditate and return to a healthy state.
Before Bedtime
Evenings may be the best time to meditate if you naturally unwind around this time. If this is when you have some alone time to yourself, you will have time to meditate effectively before bedtime.
However, eliminate distractions to focus correctly. Perform your required tasks so your mind doesn’t wander to them, and create a quiet place for your meditation practice.
Anytime You Are Stressed
Setting aside a time of the day to meditate will help you stay consistent and achieve your goals, whether you want to start your day right or relax after a workout.
However, while you can set a specific time to meditate, be open to meditating anytime in the day, especially whenever you feel stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious.
The best time to meditate is when you need it the most. So, whenever you think you need to control your thoughts, and relax, create time to meditate.
Focus on your breath, and try to stay in the moment. Remember, a simple meditation can calm your mind and put you in the best position to handle challenging situations.
Again, while scheduling your meditation helps get your body used to a routine, embracing flexibility can let you relax when you need it the most.
So, choose the best time of day to meditate and stick to it. Yet, be ready to meditate whenever you feel the need to.
Meditation Types and When to Do Them
There are different meditation techniques. Every technique includes different practices and benefits. Let’s take a look at the most popular meditation types below.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is one of the most common meditation techniques. It involves focusing on your thoughts as they cross your mind.
However, in mindfulness meditation, you don’t judge the thoughts as they come. Instead, you focus on them, observe the patterns and note them.
While at it, you focus on an object, body sensation, or breath to boost your concentration.
Essentially, it boosts your self-awareness, concentration, and cognitive abilities.
Mindfulness also reduces anxiety. Rather than suppress, condemn, or scrutinise your thoughts, you allow them to flow.
This way, you can identify and manage your feelings, enabling emotional regulation.
Your ability to do this improves your mental well-being by allowing you to control the anxiety and stress associated with intrusive thoughts.
You can perform mindfulness meditation any time, whether in the morning, before a workout, or whenever you feel stressed.
Mindfulness meditation works effectively when you are overwhelmed with different thoughts. In this situation, you can focus on your breaths and note your thoughts without judgment.
2. Movement Meditation
Movement meditation is not restricted to yoga; you can practice when you walk, garden or do other minimal movement activities.
This meditation is best done during walking, jogging, or slow dancing. Movement meditation helps you to feel more active and self-aware. It also reduces your blood pressure and stress.
You can practice movement meditation in several ways, including standing, sitting, walking, or jogging. However, the most important factor is paying attention to your breath.
Identify the thoughts that come to mind. If you judge or question those thoughts, pause and practice self-compassion. You can do this after work, before, during, or after your workout.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is one of the most effective mindfulness practices for a relaxed and calm state. It reduces stress, pain, and anxiety.
PMR involves tensing, tightening, and releasing muscle groups simultaneously to relax and release tension.
You can practice PMR after a long day to relax your muscles and de-stress. You can also perform it before bedtime to induce sleep.
PMR is practised in different positions, sitting or lying down. The most important thing to do while tensing and tightening the muscle is to avoid holding your breath.
Instead, breathe in a while, tighten the muscles and breathe out when releasing them.
As a stress-management practice, PMR reduces anxiety and relieves physical and mental stress. It also lowers your blood pressure, reduces muscle tension, and improves overall well-being.
So don’t hesitate to practice PMR when you feel stressed or anxious. You can perform it anytime; after the day’s work, bedtime, or morning.
Final Thoughts
Stress and anxiety are standard parts of life. However, it would help if you controlled them to protect your well-being.
The way to do this is to adopt specific mindfulness practices that relax and reduce anxiety and stress.
Yet, it’s not enough to pick a mindfulness technique; you must choose the best time of day to meditate. The best time to meditate is unique to your schedule and needs.
So, remember to select a period that fits your schedule and goals. Finally, while scheduling your meditation is critical, flexibility is vital.
So, always keep an open mind, and meditate when it’s suitable for you.
FAQs
Is There a Best Time to Meditate?
You can meditate at any time of the day, depending on your lifestyle and goal.
For example, morning meditation can give you a headstart for a positive day, meditation after work maintains a healthy work-life balance, and meditation before bedtime facilitates a night of good sleep.
It’s up to you to choose the most convenient period to meditate and reach your goals.
When Is the Best Time to Mediate for Anxiety?
The best time to meditate for anxiety is when you feel overwhelmed with thoughts, worries, and anxiety.
Take deep breaths when this happens, and create time to meditate. You can also structure a meditation schedule to prevent anxiety by maintaining a calm and stress-free mind.
When doing this, you effectively combat anxiety and take charge of your thoughts.
