Morning vs Evening Meditation: Pros, Cons & How to Choose the Best Time for You
If you’ve ever tried to build a meditation habit, you’ve probably asked yourself the question – when is the best time to meditate?
Well, it can vary; some people are die-hard morning meditators, rolling out of bed to sit in silence before the day begins and swearing it changes their perspective for the rest of the day. Others say evening is better as a way to wash off the stresses of the day and to aid better sleep.
So what’s the best time to meditate? The answer is there isn’t a best time to meditate. However, the two times of day do offer different experiences, and depending on your goal, routine, and personality, one will suit you better than the other.
Mornings
There is definitely something about mornings – it’s the calm and the stillness when no one else is awake that evokes a sense of calm, as darkness turns to lightness at the dawn breaks. Your house is quiet, your phone isn’t pinging with notifications, and it feels like you have a blank canvas to begin your day. Meditating in the morning is like setting a barometer to calm in your mind before the rest of the world tries to claim it.
Your mind is clearer. It sets the tone. Even a 10-minute meditation before your morning coffee can ripple into the rest of the day. You may not notice at first, so don’t give up, but later, when the traffic or your colleagues test your patience, you find yourself responding a little differently and hopefully calmly.
It can be easier to stay consistent with a morning practice. Evenings can be busier with social events, fitness classes and other things that take up your precious time in the evenings.
The only way a person may struggle with this, of course, is if you’re not a ‘morning person’ but more of a ‘night owl’ – getting out of bed isn’t the easiest, and just the added commitment in the morning causes your peaceful meditation intention to become a chore. Or perhaps you have children and pets that busy your mornings, leaving little time for a calm 10 minutes.
Evenings
Evening meditations can have a whole different tone to them. The day is almost over, and your brain may be buzzing with all of the busyness of the day, the interactions that went well, and definitely those that didn’t go so well.
Evening meditations are less about preparation for the day ahead and more about releasing all the day’s stresses.
It helps to calm the mind, settle those thoughts and frustrations. Sitting quietly in meditation can feel like you are dissolving all those feelings away. As a result, you will relax into your evening and improve your sleep.
The pace can be slower in the evenings, as you’re not rushing to begin your day and worrying about being late to work and other commitments.
The only downside is fatigue and tiredness. Sometimes you may feel physically and mentally exhausted from the day, and it’s easier to fall asleep whilst meditating.
Is One Better Than The Other?
I would say no, it’s personal preference and need-based – it’s about doing what’s right for your situation. If your mornings are chaotic with children and pets or you have a commute to work, trying to force another thing into the morning can seem daunting. And of course, the same applies to evening commitments too.
I suppose it’s more about asking yourself – “What do I need today?”
If it’s focus, energy and intention setting, try mornings.
If it's releasing stress and calming down, try evenings.
Ideally, you would aim for both morning and evening, even if it’s only for 5 - 10 minutes each time. It’s best to test it out and see what works best for you, although this requires noticing how you are after each meditation, either throughout the day or how well you sleep.
The most important thing is to establish some sort of a routine, as we are, after all, creatures of habit.
Wrap Up
It’s best not to overcomplicate things. Be gentle with yourself. When meditating, understand that a wandering mind is all part of the practice. Keep returning your thoughts to your breath when your mind wanders.
Do whatever makes things easiest for you – find a good App: I recommend Headspace or Calm, as I’ve used them before in the past, and there are plenty of others to choose from. Another good option is to find a good YouTube channel where you can follow along with a narrated meditation.
Setting up – again, you don’t need a dedicated space, but if you can, it’s perfect as your body is immediately calmed by a space set up for peace and meditation. You also don’t need a fancy cushion, candle or incense sticks, but they do add to the experience.
New to meditation, I thought these observations by Buddhist Monk Gelong Thubten, author of A Monk’s Guide to Happiness, are a perfect summary:
Meditation is working with your mind to be less controlled by it.
Meditation is not about getting rid of the thoughts – it is about changing your relationship with your thoughts.
When you choose to meditate daily, even for 10 minutes, you are choosing to be happy.
The wandering mind is part of the process; it is about learning to notice your thoughts and gently bringing them back to focusing on the breath.
Four consecutive days of meditation (even for 10 minutes a day) can be seen on brain scans as having a positive impact.
Remember, a daily meditation is about gentle consistency; there is no pressure.
Morning meditation enhances focus and sets a positive tone for the day, while evening meditation aids in stress release and improves sleep. Ultimately, the best time is when it can be consistently practised, and it is a personal preference.