Why everyone should be meditating first thing in the morning

Meditating is a great way to start your day. Mary Sauer outlines the many benefits of meditating in the morning and has tips how to get started.

A morning meditation practice isn’t just for serious yogis—everyone can benefit from engaging in meditation each day. Contrary to popular belief, daily meditation doesn’t have to be consuming or difficult to implement in your life. You can start small, with just a few minutes each day. There are so many benefits to meditating, and you can easily reap these benefits from implementing it into your life. Here’s why everyone should be meditating first thing in the morning.

Meditation helps you wake up: There are certain types of meditation used to help you wake up, giving you a great start to your day. Begin your day with a meditation, sitting upright and focusing on your guiding thoughts for the day.

Meditation can improve your mood: Meditation is a way for you to re-centre your thoughts around positive thinking. Use meditation to improve your mood by settling on the mindset you would like to have for you day, and make that the focus of your morning meditation practice.

Meditate while your mind is clear: One of the benefits of beginning your day with meditation is that your mind is clear and you have not been distracted by the many responsibilities of your day. If you wait until later in the day, other responsibilities and distractions sometimes prevent you from getting the full benefit from your meditation practice.

Meditation can decrease stress: Meditation can be used to regulate blood pressure, slow breathing, and relax the muscles in your body. All of these effects on the body work together to create a calming and peaceful feeling, greatly reducing feelings of stress or anxiety.

Meditation is good for your health: Research has found meditation may have many positive effects on the health of those who engage in a regular practice. Meditation is associated with lowered blood pressure, increased blood flow to the muscles, lower stress and anxiety, and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Starting your morning meditation practice

To get started with a morning meditation practice, we suggest you designate a quiet and clutter free space as your location for meditating each day. This could be a simple as your living room, or you could create your own beautiful fitness room. Next, you will want to find a way to commit to your practice and remind yourself each day. You can write an appointment in your planner, set an alarm on your smartphone or simply leave a post-it on your bathroom mirror.

Lastly, if you are new to meditation, it is best to start small. Begin with a few minutes each day and add time as you grow more comfortable with your practice.