Your guide to morning meditation

We’ve all heard it before: How you start your day is essential for helping the rest of your day be productive and enjoyable. 

And it’s the truth: Your mornings matter. 

Starting your day with intention can set the tone for a great day ahead. And one way to create this sense of positive intention is through morning meditation. 

So, keep reading to explore the benefits of a morning meditation practice, learn our step-by-step guide for incorporating meditation into your morning routine, and discover practical tips for getting started and maintaining consistency.

Ready to experience the benefits of morning meditation for yourself? Take a few deep breaths, and then download the Balance app on iOS or Android today to start your meditation journey with our guided meditations, personalized programs, and expert advice, all for free for your entire first year.

Why morning meditation matters

Meditation can deliver powerful benefits. It can help reduce your stress and anxiety, improve your focus and productivity, and enhance your overall well-being. And by taking just a few minutes to meditate every morning, you can create a sense of ease and clarity in your body and mind that will stay with you throughout the day.

A guide to morning meditation

Fortunately, it's easier than you might think to incorporate meditation into your morning routine. 

Here's a step-by-step guide for you if you want to set aside time to start your day with morning meditation:

• Find a quiet and comfortable place that's free from distractions.
• Set a timer for 5-10 minutes, or if you prefer guidance, open the Balance app and choose a meditation that fits your needs or mood. 
• Take a few deep breaths, and then start your self-guided session or your chosen Balance meditation session.
• Enjoy how you feel when you finish.

Or, if you'd prefer to incorporate meditation into what you're already doing in the mornings, here are some options for you, which are all available in the Balance app:

• Wake Up meditation: If you want to turn the process of waking up and getting out of bed into a meditative experience, you can! This meditation slowly wakes you up, leads you through some gentle stretches, and helps you start your day with intention.
• Morning Brew meditation: Want to meditate while drinking your coffee or tea? Then this meditation is for you. Instead of drinking your beverage on autopilot, you'll learn to savor the experience.
• Commute meditation: You can even meditate while you're on your way to work in the morning with the Balance app's Commute meditation. Build focus and energy instead of anxiety or frustration on your way to work.
• Walking meditation: If you're in the habit of taking a quick morning walk, perhaps to take your dog out before you leave the house, you can use Balance's Walking meditation to enhance your experience.

As you can see, your morning meditation practice can and should be whatever works best for you. Just remember to keep it easy. Morning meditation should improve how you start your day, not make it more stressful.

The benefits of different morning meditation styles

There’s no right or wrong way to meditate, and there are countless meditation techniques. But there are a few different types of meditation that could be particularly beneficial for your morning practice:

• Awareness meditation: This type of meditation involves focusing on the present moment and observing your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. It can help increase your self-awareness and reduce stress and anxiety.
• Loving-Kindness meditation: This type of meditation involves cultivating feelings of love and compassion toward yourself and others. It can help improve relationships and increase feelings of optimism and well-being.
• Gratitude meditation: This type of meditation involves focusing on the things in your life that make you feel full and content. It can help shift your perspective toward positivity and increase your feelings of happiness.

Can you already start to see how these benefits might enhance your morning routine?

Combining morning meditations with other self-care practices

Morning meditation can be even more effective when combined with other self-care practices, including the following: 

• Journaling: Taking a few minutes to write down your thoughts and feelings can help you gain clarity and set intentions for the day ahead.
• Yoga: A gentle yoga flow can help stretch your body and calm your mind before a morning meditation.
• Gratitude practices: Practicing gratitude can help create a positive mindset and increase your well-being.
• Nature walks: Taking a mindful walk in nature can help you connect with your body, mind, and surroundings, and increase feelings of calm and relaxation.

Let your curiosity guide you as you experiment and craft a morning routine that allows you to start your day with intention and sets you up for a successful day ahead.

Tips for establishing a morning meditation routine

For all its benefits, it's still true that establishing a morning meditation practice can be challenging. You might be lacking motivation in the mornings. Or the thought of waking up early to make time for meditation might be a non-starter for you. But there are strategies that can help, regardless of what obstacles are true for you. 

Here are a few of our top tips for establishing a morning meditation routine:

• Start small: Begin with just a few minutes of meditation each morning, and gradually increase the time you spend meditating as you become more comfortable (and if you want to).
• Find an accountability partner: Partnering with a friend or family member who is also interested in morning meditation can help you stay motivated and accountable.
• Strive for consistency: Creating a consistent morning routine that includes meditation can help you make it a habit.

And remember, the Balance app makes it easy to incorporate meditation into what you're already doing in the mornings. So it doesn't have to add time or friction to how you start your days.

Maintaining a morning meditation practice

So now you know how to start a morning meditation practice. But how do you maintain it?

Maintaining a consistent morning meditation practice is key to reaping the benefits. So here are a few tips to help you stay on track:

• Be kind to yourself: It’s okay if you miss a day or two. Simply acknowledge it and get back on track as quickly as possible.
• Mix it up: Trying different types of meditation or combining it with other self-care practices can help keep things interesting and prevent boredom.
• Make it a priority: Remember why you started your morning meditation practice in the first place, and make it a priority in your daily routine.

Start your morning meditation practice today

Starting your day with intention and mindfulness through morning meditation can have a profound impact on your body and mind.