What is the best time to meditate?

If you’re just starting your own meditation practice, creating a sustainable routine is very important. Meditation practice is just like going to the gym or studying a language: it is built on consistency. You’ll reap the greatest rewards from meditation when you are able to get into a rhythm of daily practice. To create a routine that works for you, one of the first things you’ll probably want to know is: “What is the best time to meditate?”

The answer to that question depends on you. Ask yourself when you can fit meditation into your day at a consistent time. The best time to meditate is…the time that works for you. Meditating at dawn simply doesn’t work for everyone, so don’t make a point to sit in the morning if you know it won’t align with your body clock. If you have to drag yourself out of bed early in the morning for meditation, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Tips to start your meditation routine

We at Still Sitting believe in choosing a time to meditate and sticking with it as best you can.  If you choose a specific hour of the day to sit, after a couple of weeks you’ll start to identify that time as your sitting time. Within months, you may feel strange when that hour rolls by and you’ve missed your meditation.  At that point, meditation has been built into your body clock.  Hooray! 

If you have a hard time sticking to your routine by yourself, look for opportunities to meditate with local groups or meditation centers. Finding other like-minded people to practice with — whether attending a meditation center or informally with friends — can help keep you consistent.  

If you’re on your own, try setting an alarm on your watch or cell phone for your meditation time.  Even if you can’t make it happen that day, it’ll remind you that this is your time to slow down. If nothing else, you can take a few breaths and practice a couple of minutes of mindfulness.

One way or another, we hope you find time to sit still with some regularity.  Why not start sitting this week? As our old friend Ben Franklin says, “You may delay, but time will not.” 

How does time of day affect meditation?

The time of day you choose to meditate will affect the overall experience. While some people swear by early morning meditation, others find that meditating in the evening or even midday works better for their schedules and personal rhythms

Morning Meditation

It’s no secret that many practitioners like to start the day with morning meditation. There’s something especially tranquil about those early hours that make for a great sit! During the early morning, your mind will likely be more focused and less cluttered. Your body and mind will be well rested from sleep, allowing you to more naturally enter a meditative state.

Morning meditation can set a positive tone for the day, helping you approach work and family with a sense of focus and calm.

However, for night owls or those with busy mornings, this time might not be ideal. If you find it challenging to wake up early or if your mornings are busy, forcing yourself to meditate can feel stressful and counterproductive.

Midday Meditation

If mornings feel rushed or you simply can’t find the energy to sit and focus, midday meditation could be a great alternative. Many people experience a dip in energy during the early afternoon, and taking a short meditation break can help you reset and re-energize.

Midday meditation provides a chance to pause and reflect, especially if you’re feeling stressed. Taking 10-15 minutes during lunch or a work break can restore your sense of clarity, leaving you better equipped to handle the rest of your day.

At Still Sitting we drop our work at 1:30pm every day, and sit for 15 minutes.  That time is now ingrained in our company system, and in our individual schedules.

Evening Meditation

Meditating in the evening can be the perfect way to unwind after a busy day. This time can be great for reflection: mulling over and releasing the challenges and frustrations of the day. It is also an opportune time to process any lingering thoughts or emotions before sleep

However, if you’re exhausted toward the end of the day, you might have difficulty staying consistent. Focus on finding a time when you can enthusiastically engage in practice.

Creating a meditation routine

Now that you’ve picked the time that works best for you, here’s how you can develop your routine:

Start small

It’s tempting to commit to a long session, but starting small can be much more effective. Begin with just 5-10 minutes of meditation a day and gradually increase the time as you feel more comfortable. This allows you to ease into the practice without feeling overwhelmed or burdened by lengthy sessions.

Make it non-negotiable

One of the most effective ways to stick to a meditation routine is by making it a non-negotiable part of your day. Treat your meditation time like an important meeting or appointment that you wouldn’t cancel unless absolutely necessary. Whether you meditate in the morning, midday, or evening, commit to that time and make it a priority.

Sit with friends or a meditation group

If you’re struggling to meditate alone, try finding a local meditation group. Meditating in a group setting can provide motivation and structure, making it easier to stick to your routine. Many meditation centers offer group sits at specific times of the day, which can help you establish a consistent rhythm.

Be compassionate

Remember to be kind to yourself. There will be days when it’s more challenging to sit down and meditate, and that’s okay. Life can be unpredictable, and some days may require flexibility. If you can’t meditate at your usual time, try to find a few minutes elsewhere in your day to practice mindfulness.

Further reading from Still Sitting: “The Sleepy Sit” and “Creating your Meditation Space“.

A note on our research and sources

Still Sitting is committed to writing and researching informative, engrossing, and accurate articles for our blog. We know there are many places to find information online. So, we work hard to ensure that we are a trusted source for all of our readers. Our blog is intended to help you learn about our products and the cultural and historical subjects that we hold dear. As part of this commitment, we include the sources we used to write our posts:

Four good times to meditate
Benefits of morning meditation