Stay Awake During Meditation — 10 Practical Tips

Have you ever started sitting for meditation and found yourself shaken awake by a massive head bobble? Or, you finally took a seat only to spend your time fighting to keep your eyelids from closing? We all have the best intentions to meditate but some times when we take our seat, we drift quickly into dreamland. Even the Buddha identified sleepiness as one of the traditional five hindrances to meditation.

Knowing how to stay awake when you meditate is an important practical consideration to learn how to manage sooner, rather than later. Take a look at these tips and find what works for you.

1. Find the best time of day for you.

Some of us are morning people, some are night people, some are in-between. This is a genetic pre-disposition based on sleep research. Find the best time for you to meditate when you’re not sleepy. For night owls, meditating first thing in the morning is a challenge, while for early birds this is fantastic. Try different times of day to find your sweet spot for wakefulness.

2. Check your intention.

Ask yourself if you are meditating to rest or if you are meditating to practice training your mind. If your goal is primarily to rest and you fall asleep during meditation, you have achieved your goal. If you need more rest, taking a nap may…