I get asked this question a lot. There is no answer that will be right for everyone. Deciding when to meditate really depends on you – your needs, available time and space.

Here are a five factors to help you determine when might be an ideal time for you to meditate.

1. Timing

Your meditation can be 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Research tells us that consistent meditation of 15 minutes every day is more beneficial than meditating for 30 minutes one time per week.

What window in the day are you available to make available each day for meditation? Remember, don’t overthink it. What time of day do you have available each day of the week for a 10-minute meditation?

2. Set Up or Reset

Let’s say you have availability to meditate early in the day, late afternoon and evening, then how do you know when is best to meditate?

Meditating early in the day is a great way to start your day fresh, to center and ground yourself for what is to come.

If you are someone who might feel frazzled or deals with a lot of stress, meditating later in the day is helpful in giving the mind and body a reset. An afternoon or evening meditation might even energize you to get through the rest of your day.

3. Sound

For many people, meditating when you have quiet surroundings is helpful. It lessens distractions and can help focus the mind. If this is the case for you, then choose a time of day when your home is quieter, with less activity. Avoid noisy times in the morning that might include a passing school bus, garbage truck, honking cars or your loud family members getting ready for their day.

For other people, sound around helps maintain focus on yourself. If the case, choose a time that offers consistent sound like a morning commute on a train or park bench at the same time of day. Meditating near a basketball court when it is full can be a bit more challenging as the sounds can go up and down.

4. Alertness

For some, meditation can be energizing. For others it can be quieting to the point of putting you to sleep. If you meditate at the same time each day and find you are falling asleep each time, consider choosing nap time over meditation. Then find another time of day to practice your meditation. Meditation is a practice. What would your softball coach say to you if you fell asleep at practice every day?

5. Space

If you are new to meditation or returning to the practice, meditating in the same place at the same time each day is beneficial in establishing a routine and comfort. When you are in a space at the same time each day, you become adjusted to your space – the sounds and feel of your surroundings.

If you live in a full house with a large family, finding a quiet space to yourself can be challenging. Let others know when your meditation time is to help them in respecting your practice.

The most important factor is when can you make time for your meditation practice. Commit to one week of practicing at the same time each day. See how it goes, then adjust to another time if needed. You’ll never know when is the best time to meditate until you give it a try yourself.

Still can’t decide, here you go – Noon every day!

Photo Credit: Photo by Jon Tyson