5 min read

Morning Meditation

Picture of Clint Johnson Clint Johnson April 23, 2022

Meditation

Are you thinking about doing morning meditation? You really should, as it is the best way to start the day and here is why!

A Perfect Start to Your Day

woman enjoying morning meditation

What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning?

Scroll through your phone a bit?

Grab a cup of coffee?

Jump right into the shower?

If you’ve ever envisioned yourself as one of those people who can wake up and start their day in a slow and peaceful way, not rushed by the clock or stressed by the coming day, morning meditation may be just what you’re looking for.

Benefits of Morning Meditation

Why meditate?

If starting a meditation practice seems daunting, don’t worry — anyone can do it!

In general, meditation is simply a time you set aside to breathe deeply, focus your thoughts, and witness your feelings. And while there are certainly guides to meditation, there’s really no “wrong” way to meditate as long as you give it your best shot.

Of course, as you continue to delve into simple meditation as a practice, there’s much more to discover. For now, we’ll focus on the basics.

Let’s talk first about why exactly meditation is beneficial. Here are 7 key reasons:

Reduces stress: Meditation has been shown to lower cortisol (a key stress hormone)
Improves memory loss: In one study of a group of people with memory loss, blood flow was increased in the parietal lobes and frontal lobe for the participants who were assigned a meditation practice
Increases attention span
May decrease blood pressure
Improves sleep
Assists in pain management
Support mental health

When Is the Best Time to Meditate?

Independent or guided meditation can be done anytime, anywhere.

Still, the morning is likely the very best time to meditate.

Why?

In the morning, your mind is likely at its calmest. Nothing stressful has happened yet as you’ve just woken up, and your mind has probably not encountered any complex problems yet either.

Moreover, because you’ve just woken up, it’s unlikely that you’ll fall asleep during a meditation in the morning. However, if you do, consider playing some morning meditation music to make the experience a bit livelier. Positive energy music can actually help you concentrate better during meditation.

How Meditation Works

Morning meditation So how does a simple meditation exercise work?

Basically, if you’re a beginner, your guided morning meditation session should simply be a short, succinct moment to center, focus, and calm your mind and body.

There are no hard and fast rules. It all depends on the space, tools, and time that you have at your disposal.

Let’s talk time first.

Most of us don’t have a lot of time in the morning. In fact, it can be hard to carve out even ten or twenty minutes to do some exercise or drink a cup of coffee.

But consider the fact that doing a morning meditation can turn your entire day around. The impact is huge — especially when compounded over time. Therefore, carving out even 5 minutes during a busy morning is well worth it.

Tools and Meditation Space

Aim to practice in a quiet, calm place, such as your bedroom. If you plan to sit on the floor, sit on the carpet or a rug, or use a yoga mat. You can also use a yoga cushion or firm pillow if you choose.

As far as other tools, you might want to use a timer to time your sessions, and some people will use a meditation bell to sound the beginning and end of their meditations.

Meditation Posture

Sit comfortably on the floor with your bottom on the edge of a firm pillow or a meditation cushion. Your knees should be lower than your hips. Rest your hands gently in your lap or on your knees with palms up. Close your eyes or gaze downward about five to 10 feet in front of you. Keep your back straight and upright. Your posture might change during as you practice – this is normal, but don’t be afraid to pay attention and correct yourself.

Troubleshooting

If you have trouble starting out with meditation and knowing what to do during your sessions, consider guided meditation. Five and 10-minute guided meditation tracks can be found easily online.

If you decide to go it alone, however, keep two points in mind:

First, think about your breathing. When in doubt, focus on the breath going in and out of your mouth, airway, and lungs. Watching your breath and breathing is a great way to find and maintain concentration.

Next, when you think, feel, or experience an emotion, try not to let those thoughts, feelings, or emotions run away with you. Simply nod and smile to the experience and go back to focusing on the breath and the breathing technique.

How Long Should I Practice For?

The best way to create a morning meditation plan that you'll stick to is to go slow. If you're just starting out, a 5-minute meditation is great! This alone will make a world of difference in your life.

As you become more used to waking up and doing your 5-minute meditation in the morning, you can work your way up to a 10-minute meditation and eventually find yourself practicing for longer periods of time, up to 1 hour if time permits.

Morning Meditation: Frequently Asked Questions

Should you meditate when you first wake up?

Yes! Independent or guided morning meditation can have a profound effect on your life.

In the morning, when you are at your freshest, and your mind is the clearest, calm meditation will have its greatest impact. Starting your morning with meditation is an opportunity to achieve daily mindfulness.

By centering your mind and reducing tension straight away, you are setting yourself up for success and clarity throughout the day.

How do you meditate lying down?

Some people may choose to start their calming meditation practice while they’re still lying in bed. This can be okay when you’re just starting out. Just don't fall back asleep if you need to get up for school or work!

Lying down for a simple meditation can also be helpful if you have trouble getting to sleep at night.

Remember to retain a purposeful position when lying down. Try this:

Lay flat on your back
Keep your legs about hip’s distance apart or more
Lay your arms at your sides
Relax your body completely

What does meditation do to the brain?

Even meditation for beginners can have a huge impact on the brain.

First, meditation slows down activity in the default mode network4 or DMN. This is the area of the brain that is self-referential. If you've ever found yourself with a "wandering mind," the DMN is also the culprit.

Next, research has shown that consistent meditation for stress and anxiety will reduce both considerably. This may be in part due to the reduction in cortisol that meditation prompts.

Finally, meditation has been known to increase volume in important areas of the brain such as the hippocampus (responsible for memory and learning).

Furthermore, it has been shown that the changes in the brain that are due to meditation stay — even when the individual does not follow a daily practice.

Guided or unguided – what’s the right choice?

Choosing between guided meditation or unguided practice is a matter of personal preference, however, if you’re just starting out, your mind tends to wander, and staying in the present moment is still a challenge, consider guided meditations as your starting point. Sit comfortably, set yourself up to find calm, and start your day with guidance from a meditation teacher. There are plenty of apps and videos online with infinite options. Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect meditation, it varies from person to person.