Scheduling Your Meditation Time: 10 Tips for Success

Find a Meditation Time That Works for You. Discover why your chosen meditation time is critical to long-term success. Learn how to create a meditation schedule that fits your lifestyle and helps you remain consistent.

1. The best time for meditation is the time that works for you

Following through with your meditation practice is more important than forcing yourself to perform at inconvenient times. This principle holds true for how long you meditate as well.

If you set a length of time outside your comfort zone, you may approach sessions with dread instead of anticipation. Always start small (think 3-5 minutes) and gradually increase the duration of your meditation as necessary. Even after your practice has improved, you may still prefer several shorter sessions instead of one lengthy one.

2. Your body clock rhythms can influence your meditation time

Human circadian rhythms run on an approximately 24-hour cycle and dictate many bodily functions, including temperature, alertness and digestion. In addition, people have variations in their rhythms that make them prefer morning or evening hours for certain activities.

You may embrace a sunrise meditation session if you wake up refreshed and eager to start the day. On the other hand, you may not make it through an evening class without falling asleep. By contrast, night owls who sleep in and stay up late may experience more benefits from an afternoon or sunset meditation time.

3. Morning meditation offers advantages that are hard to beat

While anytime is a great time to meditate, there's just something special about the break of dawn.

• Interruptions are at a minimum at that time of day

• Your mind is quiet and relaxed from the previous night's sleep

• You can carry your calm, centered state throughout the remainder of your day

• There's nothing quite like checking off a completed task so early in the day

• You may experience improved alertness as you go about your day

4. After-work meditation lets you de-stress before enjoying time with family and friends

Your after-work hours are critical to maintaining a proper work / life balance. Enjoying a post-job meditation session makes a clean break in your day, letting you leave problems behind and setting the stage for an evening of enjoyment.

Not only can this improve your personal time, but it can also benefit you at work as you start the next day with a fresh perspective.

5. Meditation provides a quick pick-me-up throughout the day

Mid-morning or mid-afternoon meditation sessions can be extremely rewarding. Not only do you get a break from your daily tasks, but you'll finish your session with renewed alertness and a clear mental state.

Use the following opportunities for a mini-meditation break:

• Take advantage of naps or quiet times if you're a stay-at-home parent.

• Use work breaks wisely and look for a quiet place to practice.

• Consider using part of your lunch period to meditate.

6. Although unconventional, evening meditation could be your best solution.

If your sleep rhythms keep you going well into the evening, setting aside some minutes for quiet reflection may help you relax and smooth the way for a good night's rest. This is especially helpful if you have difficulty slowing your thoughts before bed.

A consistent bedtime routine can also help improve the quality of your sleep, so try to perform your nightly meditations at approximately the same time each evening.

7. Meditation can be the perfect addition to your exercise routine — before or after

Adding a meditation program to the end of your regular workout can help your body recover from exertions and keep those feel-good endorphins as long as possible. If your activity was strenuous, gentle stretches and slow breathing can be beneficial before starting your reflection.

Meditating before a workout helps you prepare for the physical and mental demands to come. You can incorporate breathing exercises and some gentle movements as well to maximize performance.

8. You can adjust meditation times to meet specific needs

Meditation, with its deep-ranging effects, can help a variety of mind and body issues, and your reasons for meditating may be completely different from someone else's.

Therefore, don't compare the length or timing of your practice with another. For example, you may benefit from ten-minute segments throughout your day to improve focus and reduce stress, while someone with a severe anxiety disorder, withdrawal symptoms or chronic illness may require more intensive sessions.

9. Meditation is adaptable to a busy lifestyle

You can take your meditation practice with you, whether on vacation, attending a work conference or visiting family. While you may need to adjust the length of sessions or change the time of day, it's more important that you maintain consistency.

Brainstorm how to fit in small amounts of meditation when your schedule is overflowing. For example, squeezing in a small session while waiting for an appointment or waking up a little earlier for morning quiet time can be helpful during a crisis.

10. Share meditation time through teacher-led and community sessions

While you may practice most of your meditation time alone, seeking the advice of experts can help deepen the experience and improve your techniques. One-on-one coaching can be beneficial for meditation training, occasional checkups and treatments for specific issues.

By participating in group sessions, you can connect with others, working toward similar goals. It's also much easier to develop a consistent habit in a social atmosphere.