HOW TO START A MORNING MEDITATION ROUTINE
Morning meditation is a great way to start your day off bright and refreshed. But not everyone is a morning person, and many people find it difficult to find the time or motivation to start their morning with meditation.
Many successful people find it essential to start their mornings with a few minutes of breathing and silence to kick start their day with a clear mind and a productive attitude. If you have been struggling to start a morning meditation routine, we’ve gathered some great tips and expert advice to help beginners get started.
Why meditate in the Morning?
There are many benefits of meditation in general, but there are several benefits to practicing your meditation sessions first thing in the morning. Numerous studies have suggested that meditation has various health benefits–most notably, reducing stress. Meditation gives the mind a break, offering an opportunity to detach from the chaos of our lives and seek shelter in silence and stillness. Morning practice will set the tone for your day and help you be more energized, focused, content, and optimistic.
Here are a few other great benefits:
- Boosts your enthusiasm and energy levels.
- Helps you be more positive and improves overall mental health.
- Increases your focus and concentration so you can be more engaged in your work.
- Encourages you to clear your mind of negative thought patterns and let go of emotional baggage.
- Reduces your overall worry and anxiety levels throughout the day.
- Creates a balanced perspective for engaging with your co-workers.
If the idea of sitting down to meditate for several minutes every morning doesn’t appeal to you, you can find opportunities in ordinary moments to meditate. Just a few moments of mindfulness in your routine can bring you greater energy, focus, and calm.
When should you meditate in the morning?
Many practitioners find morning to be the easiest time to practice, whether they’re choosing mindfulness, mantra meditation, visualization, or another technique. You can practice at any time of the day or night, but most people agree that the ideal time to meditate is first thing in the morning. The traditional time is at sunrise or an hour and a half before, which is called Brahma Muhurt—the time of Brahman.
While this is considered the best and most auspicious time for spiritual practices, it can be challenging for most people to commit to. It is much more important to have a set routine that works for your practice and morning schedule. Creating a set morning routine means you don’t have to think about or decide what you’re going to do as soon as you wake up. This will make your morning practice a habit and an automatic part of your day.
How to start a morning meditation practice
The hardest part of starting a meditation routine is the first step! You may be unsure of how to do it, or how to stick with it; you may see the benefits of meditation but feel you don’t have the time, or simply be too busy to spare 15 minutes a day to sit still. You can make it as complicated or simple as you want it to be: lie down, sit, or stand; you can focus on your breath, your body, your mantra, or just observe your thoughts. The secret to getting started is to make it as simple as possible and to start slowly. We recommend beginners try the following:
- Set aside a specific time to practice. 15 minutes is the recommended length of time.
- Decide on a length and commit to sitting the entire time.
- Choose a technique or style that works best with your personality.
- It’s best to use a seated meditation pose. Find a comfortable chair, a spot on the sofa, or a cushion in a spot on the floor. You can even sit in your car before or after your commute!
