For the majority of people the best times to meditate are in the morning just after waking and in the evening before going to bed. But meditation can be done any time and anywhere you can be quiet and inward.
Plan to meditate every day. Try meditating 10 to 20 minutes twice a day in the beginning. You can gradually increase the time, but don’t go beyond your capacity to enjoy each meditation. Depth of focus is much more important than merely increasing the amount of time. As you progress it is natural to want to meditate longer, and the more you meditate, the more you will want to meditate!
Choose a convenient time for your meditations. Regularity is the most important factor, so find a time when you can be consistent. Creating a habit of meditation is far and away the most important goal in the beginning. Most people find that early morning and late evening are the times most under their control and the least likely to have other demands. These times are important for other reasons also. In the morning the mind is quieter, not yet engaged in the busyness of the day. It is easiest to reprogram the subconscious mind, where habits are rooted, just after or just before sleep. Also, during the early morning and late evening hours the thoughts of people around us are calmer and less disturbed. It is best to wait at least a half hour after eating—up to three hours after a heavy meal—so there will not be competition for energy between digestion and meditation.
Many people also like to meditate before lunch or right after work. Meditating at these times breaks the cycle of endless activity and gets you centered again. A friend who worked as a nurse in an emergency ward was a near legend among her co-workers for her ability to stay centered in every situation. She credited her calmness to her habit of meditating at lunch and briefly during her breaks.
