Daybreak Meditation Guide: Tips for a Mindful Morning

By Laurie Fanelli in Healthy Feeling

Mornings can be stressful. From the moment the alarm goes off until the second you’re running out the door, worry may often flood your mind. Meditation—the act of spending time in quiet thought—has the power to slow things down during your hectic morning, reduce anxiety, and refresh your mind for the day ahead.

This meditation guide will help demystify the ancient practice and make it accessible to even the busiest individuals. After even a short morning meditation session, I always feel more awake and prepared to thoughtfully handle any situation.

For beginners, meditation may sound like an intensive study that must be practiced in a fancy yoga studio, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It can be done absolutely anywhere, which is perfect if you’re busy. By dedicating just 10 minutes to a morning meditation routine, you’ll give yourself the gift of stillness while preparing yourself for a tranquil, yet productive, day.

Guided MeditationMornining meditation can be done even before leaving bed

After waking up in the morning, the first thing you probably do is reach for your cellphone. Instead of fighting to break this habit, use your phone to play a guided meditation video before diving into your emails and social media feeds. Try this soothing, helpful Yoga Journal clip that coaches you through the basics of meditation. The best part is you don’t even have to leave your bed!

If you have a specific area of your life that you’d like to focus on during periods of meditation, The Chopra Center also offers a wide-ranging collection of guided meditation audio files for free. Myriad topics—including everything from health to creativity and love—are addressed in these audio sessions, ranging from five to 30 minutes in length.

Bathroom Bliss

If you’re a parent of young children or live in a busy, bustling home, it’s often challenging to find just 10 minutes to yourself. The bathroom is the one room where you can usually find a few moments of peaceful privacy. Bring along a comfy pillow to sit on and a lavender candle to create a soothing scent. Then close your eyes, imagine you’re relaxing on a beach, and peacefully clear your mind before the day’s schedule takes over.

The basic idea is that you can meditate anywhere that makes sense for your lifestyle. If the bathroom isn’t ideal because of constant knocks at the door in the morning, consider sitting in your car and meditating for 10 minutes before heading to work.

When I’m having an especially difficult time focusing, I find that meditating in a dark room for a few minutes is all I need to hit that reset button in my mind and return to clear-headed productivity.

Moving MeditationMeditation on the move is also a good way to experience mindfulness

Not everyone is the type of person who enjoys sitting still, but this shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the mindful practice of meditation. Early morning is a great time to clear your head with a walk around the neighborhood. Use this opportunity to engage in some dynamic meditation by leaving your iPod at home and instead focusing on the surrounding sounds. This will not only center you before kicking off your busy day, but it also reminds you of the interconnectivity of nature. You can even experience the stillness of meditation as you walk to the train before going into the office.

If you take one thing away from this meditation guide, remember there’s no wrong way to introduce stillness into your life. Whether in bed, during your morning routine, or on the go, practicing morning meditation starts your day from a place of calm and peace. If you would like more information on meditation, check out the resources mentioned above, as well as the official Transcendental Meditation website for additional techniques for inner peace.

How do you work meditation into your routine? Does it make your morning better? Let us know by tweeting @TomsofMaine!

Image sources: Wikimedia Commons | Flickr | Wikimedia Commons

This article was brought to you by Tom’s of Maine. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of Tom’s of Maine.

Why It’s Good

Early morning stretches make tired arms and legs feel rejuvenated, and morning meditation can have the same revitalizing results on the mind. Try some of these easy mindfulness techniques and start your day off with peace and tranquility.