Meditation can have various benefits for both the mind and the body. It helps us find our inner strength and peace. It can help us focus and concentrate on what really matters. Unfortunately, even though it’s beneficial, it can be tough to find the time to meditate.
Knowing when to do so is another challenge if you manage to put time aside every day to meditate. Yet, many people wonder when the best time to meditate is.
Generally, when you meditate depends on what you are looking to achieve and your everyday lifestyle.
Today, we want to go over some examples of the best time to meditate for you. So let’s take a look at choices in terms of the best times to meditate throughout your day.
The Best Times to Meditate
Most experts agree that the best time to meditate depends on the person. Therefore, we’re not going to tell you the best time to meditate—there’s really no such thing as the best time.
However, we can provide some examples of what some people would consider ideal times to meditate. Let’s start with where your day usually starts—in the morning.
1. Meditating in the Morning
Many find the best time to meditate is early in the morning—more or less as soon as they wake up. Most people feel refreshed in the morning and ready for the day ahead. In addition, meditation can help in being productive.
Meditation can help you find your inner peace and focus. It can help you find the willpower and means to be motivated and productive throughout the day. Moreover, many people find that meditation helps calm them down for a stressful day ahead.
When you wake up, you usually aren’t thinking about work, school, and other stresses. So it’s a great time to meditate because your mind is in a good place for it.
However, some people might find it challenging to meditate first thing in the morning. This is especially the case for beginners who don’t have much experience.
Some people wake up in the morning, thinking about their responsibilities. This level of stress and overthinking can make it hard to focus on meditation. If this is you, you might want to try doing some simple deep breathing exercises instead.
2. Meditating at Lunch or Midday
Another option is meditating during your lunch hour. This is an excellent option for people who have stressful days.
Moreover, it’s also a good way to destress from your morning and prepare yourself for a stressful afternoon ahead. By lunchtime, the stress from the morning has wholly sapped our energy and willpower. As a result, finding enough motivation to focus on work in the afternoon can be challenging.
In addition, sitting at the computer all morning hasn’t done your muscles or your back any good either. These are all reasons why meditation during lunchtime can be beneficial: It can help loosen up sore muscles.
Moreover, you might find the calmness, focus, and motivation you need for a productive afternoon. Many workplaces have meditation and yoga rooms for their employees.
Although you might not have much time to spend at lunch, there’s always enough time to meditate. For instance, there are many ten- or even five-minute guided meditations. This will allow you to meditate and still have enough time to enjoy a spot for lunch as well.
3. Meditating Before Bed
Some people find that the best time to meditate is the evening or before bedtime. This is the only time they have to meditate more than anything else for many.
Your work is done, the dishes have been cleaned, the kids are in bed, and everything else has been taken care of. Now is when you can take as much time for yourself as possible. This is an excellent time to engage in a prolonged meditation session.
Moreover, meditating in the evening, before bedtime, can relieve stress. We all have really long and hard days, and meditation is a way to relax.
However, although mindful meditation requires you to be alert and focused, it can help you wind down from a long day. It allows you to focus on nothing but yourself instead of dealing with the problems around you. In addition, many people find that it’s an excellent way to relax before bedtime to get a better night’s sleep.
Many people have trouble sleeping due to anxiety; their minds never stop racing, making it hard to fall asleep. Meditation can help you clear your mind so you can easily fall asleep without thinking about tomorrow.
4. Meditating Right After Work
When you meditate also depends on your schedule. For instance, you might have a very stressful job and get home at four in the afternoon. Then, your children get home at six.
This means you have two hours in which you can meditate. It’s not just about the best time to meditate but also about finding the time to do so. If it’s the only time you can find, you should take advantage of it.
However, there are benefits to meditating right after work. Many of us have stressful jobs, and that stress and those feelings of anxiety are not things you want to take home with you. Some studies also back up claims of meditation is beneficial for our health.
You don’t want to let your emotions out on the rest of the family. So, meditating right after work can be a tremendous emotional release. It can also serve as a barrier between work and home life, so you don’t bring work home.
5. Meditating After Exercise
We also recommend meditating right after exercise; many people find this a great time to meditate because their heads are already relatively clear. If your mind is already clear from working out, it will make meditation easier.
However, your body isn’t the only thing that needs nourishment. Your mind needs nourishment and sustenance as well, which is meditation. Therefore, if you meditate right after exercise, you can take care of your mind and body.
6. Whenever You Feel Stress
Many recommend that you meditate whenever you feel stressed. This may be the best practice of all. After all, meditation can calm you and relieve stress.
It’s better to meditate and take care of those feelings as they occur. Instead of using distractions like television and food to tune out reality, use meditation to tune into reality and solve your issues.
Mindful meditation forces you to look inwards to deal with your issues. For example, running away from stress shouldn’t be an option; dealing with it is a much better choice.
Read also: How to Meditate Spiritually
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that the best time to meditate is whenever works best and feels best for you. There is no objective conclusion or answer here. As long as you get your meditation in at some point, that’s when it is best for you.