What Is the Ideal Time to Practice Meditation?

What is the optimum time of day to Practice Meditation? Well, this is a question that many beginners and intermediate meditators have in their minds. 

It is not always necessary to meditate at a specific time of day, but it does make a difference.

This article provides comprehensive answers to this question.

Also, by reading this article, you will get a clear understanding of the best time to meditate and do yoga. 

Is There A Best Time To Meditate For Greatest Benefits: The Practical Answer To This Question

I have never come across any scientific study which tells the effects of meditating at various times of the day. So, I’ll answer this question based on my own experience, i.e., how I practice this thing and the benefits that I have got in my entire meditation journey. 

If you want to get the most out of your meditation, you should do it with peace of your mind. Also, you should perform it with utmost concentration. So, it is better to perform it when you feel rested and attentive. 

It means that you shouldn’t do it right after a heavy meal or if you’re tired or physically exhausted.

Other than that, the most important thing for any beginner and intermediate meditator is to maintain the habit of practicing meditation regularly. 

So, the best answer is that the optimal time to meditate is when you can perform it with your ultimate peace of mind and utmost concentration. One should perform this activity at a time which best fits with the schedule.

To put it another way, when you’re most likely to do meditation consistently, i.e., without missing this on any day. It is something which will contribute to providing you with the maximum benefits. 

That, of course, is dependent on your lifestyle and habits.

Now, let’s look at the essential benefits and drawbacks of practicing meditation at different times of the day.

Various Times of the Day

Meditation In The Morning Time

Doing any peaceful work in the morning time comes with several benefits. The same thing applies to meditation.

Most yoga teachers recommend meditating early in the morning, directly after a trip to the bathroom and before eating breakfast. 

As we have maximum energy in the morning, it is often regarded as the ideal time. Also, the mind is fresh and quiet at this period. Those who practice meditation every day in the morning time prefer sticking to this practice.

To understand this well, let’s have a look at its pros and cons.

Pros

• Morning time is peaceful with less noise and distractions.
• At this period, you naturally feel more relaxed and rested. It ultimately leads to better meditation practice.
• The meditation benefits you will get in the morning are more easily carried over to your day-to-day life.
• It sets up a better tone and mood for the rest of your day.
• By practicing meditation in the morning time, you will gradually build a regular habit. 

Cons

• You will need to wake up earlier than usual.
• Some people find it is difficult to focus in the morning as they feel a little sleepy. 

Noon Meditation

A lot of busy professionals prefer meditating at noontime, i.e., before lunch. It is because they cannot make time in the morning. Also, this time is convenient for them as they need a break in the middle of a hectic and stressful day. 

Pros

• Many people find noon time to be preferable for meditation as they are fully awake and alert. Also, they are not yet tired, which makes it an ideal time for practicing meditation. 
• It tends to provide you a natural break from your day-to-day activities. 

Cons

• You will face difficulties finding a good place to meditate at noontime.
• Lunchtime may be inconsistent and hectic depending on the nature of your work. You may need to shorten this in some days, or you might come across any forms of interruptions such as an urgent task or call.

Evening Meditation

It can be a challenging task to keep a meaningful meditation practice, specifically at night time. But, those who are not morning friendly, i.e., wake up late, may prefer this time for practicing meditation. 

If anyone can utilize this time effectively, there is no harm in practicing meditation at night or evening.

But, to get a clear understanding of this, let’s have a close look at its pros and cons.

Pros

• It provides you a great way in which you would be able to recover from a stressful day. 
• It tends to offer you an opportunity to take a nice break between personal time and work time.
• The pressure is less at this time.
• Practicing at night promotes much better sleep. 
• It also helps you to relax at the end of the day.

Cons

• You may feel too tired to practice meditation at this time.
• Your mind may be less rested and alert, which thereby leads to drowsy sessions. 
• It may be difficult to meditate each day as some nights; you will feel exhausted after a hectic day. Or you may have some family or social activities to participate in at night or evening time. So, you might fail to maintain consistency. 
• If, for some reason, you need to skip this activity, then you will not get any option to perform this practice at any other time of the day. You will have to wait for the next day for this. 

Final Verdict

So, if your primary goal with meditation is to get better sleep, it is good to practice this right before going to sleep.

Yoga Nidra is considered to be the best practice to get sound and better sleep. 

On the other hand, if your purpose of meditation is different, then the morning time is preferable.

As per the spiritual books, the ideal time to meditate is Brahmamuhurta. You would be able to relish maximum benefits at this period.