The Best Time to Meditate (& How to Start If You're New to It)

Hey friend,

Let’s talk about something simple, powerful, and honestly kind of life-changing once you get into it: meditation. If you’ve been curious about it—or maybe you’ve tried it once and weren’t sure if you were doing it “right”—you’re not alone. I used to feel the same way. I thought I needed to sit perfectly still, think about nothing, and somehow reach a state of deep, enlightened peace on the first try. Spoiler: I didn’t.

What I’ve learned is that meditation isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about creating a tiny space for yourself. A moment in your day where you pause, breathe, and come back to you. That’s it. And the best part? You can start small, and you can start now.

One of the first questions I used to ask myself was, “When’s the best time to meditate?” And honestly, the best time is whenever it fits into your life in a way that feels good—not forced. That said, I’ve found there’s something really beautiful about meditating in the morning. The world feels quieter. Your mind hasn’t been pulled in ten different directions yet. Even just a few minutes of stillness right after waking up can shift your entire day. It helps you move through the hours with more calm, more clarity, and way less reactivity.

Evening meditation can be amazing too, especially if your days tend to feel a little chaotic. It’s like giving your mind a gentle bath after everything it’s been holding. You sit down, breathe, and let the tension melt out of your body. I find it helps me sleep better and wake up less foggy. And sometimes, honestly, it’s just a moment to reflect, to let go, to quietly say “that’s enough for today.”

But here’s the thing—it doesn’t have to be morning or night. It can be whenever you need a reset. Midday, on your lunch break, after a tough conversation, in the middle of a busy workday. You don’t have to wait for the “perfect” time. The real magic of meditation is that you can take it with you anywhere. It’s yours.

If you’re just starting out, don’t worry about doing it “right.” You don’t need incense, a special cushion, or silence so perfect you can hear a pin drop. I started by sitting on the edge of my bed, eyes half-closed, with my phone timer set to five minutes. I just focused on my breath—feeling the inhale, feeling the exhale. And of course, my mind wandered. A lot. That’s part of it. Meditation isn’t about emptying your brain, it’s about noticing when your thoughts drift and gently guiding your attention back. It’s a practice, not a performance.

Some days, my meditation feels deep and calm. Other days, it’s messy and restless. But it always gives me something—a little more space, a little more ease, a little more me. And the more I show up for it, the more I notice those small shifts carrying into the rest of my life.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to try meditation, maybe this is it. Start small. Be kind to yourself. Light a candle if you want, or don’t. Sit by a window. Put on soft music. Or just close your eyes wherever you are and take a few deep breaths. It’s not about what it looks like. It’s about how it feels.

And the truth is, even one quiet minute—where you just breathe and listen and be—can change how you meet the rest of your day.

Sending you calm, light, and a moment of peace whenever you need it.