Should You Meditate Before or After Specific Activities
1 . Meditation Before or After Workout or Exercise
The combination of physical activity and meditation allows for a well-balanced physical and mental relationship with yourself. The two can be timed effectively to complement each other and boost the positive benefits of both activities. It has been said that when our muscles have undergone some extent of exhaustion via physical exercise – we are able to more easily sit still and move into a state of calm bliss. Meditation after exercise can also help to bring your energy levels back to a more relaxed level after being elevated by movement. Overall, meditation can be completed before or after physical activity or exercise – but some research suggests that there are benefits to meditating after physical movement.
2. Meditate Before or After Journaling
Meditating and journaling are both healthy habits for positive mental health and optimized productivity. Essentially, it is up to personal preference when it comes to which order you should complete both these tasks. Meditating after journaling may be beneficial for taking time to reflect and work on the thoughts and emotions that were provoked during the journaling session. Both activities help to clear your mind of negative thoughts and reduce anxiety and stress by helping you to feel on top of your thoughts and in control of your emotions. Take some time to practice both activities at different timings and reflect on which felt most beneficial to you. Both of these practices are personal, sacred times that should be led by your own preferences only.
3. Meditation Before or After Food
It is not recommended to meditate directly after eating a decently sized meal. It has been known to negatively affect the quality of your meditation due to the drowsy effect of a full stomach due to the process of digestion. This drowsiness will make it more difficult for you to concentrate and maintain good posture during your meditation. It is recommended to complete your meditation on an empty stomach or even slightly hungry as it will improve your focus and remove any drowsiness from your practice. The ideal time gap between a meal and meditation is at least two full hours.
4. Meditation Before or After Coffee
For some people, the stimulation that coffee provides is helpful to their focus. For others, the stimulation of coffee is energy inducing and leaves them feeling overly enthused and far from relaxed. When planning to meditate, take some time to acknowledge the physical effects that coffee has on your body. If you find that it improves your focus and does not leave you feeling tingly or overly energized – drinking coffee before your meditation may be an effective method of improving the quality of your practice. However, if coffee leaves you buzzing all day – perhaps complete your meditate prior to having your morning cup of coffee to ensure that you can relax entirely.
5. Meditation Before or After Sleep
Many people prefer to complete their meditation first thing in the morning as they feel the most fresh, focused and free from intruding thoughts. Completing your meditation practice first thing in the morning is a sure-fire way to ensure that you set yourself up for a productive, happy day in a positive manner. It clears your thoughts and allows you to set clear intentions for yourself. However – others prefer to use their meditation as a relaxation technique prior to sleeping. The calm state of mind and lowered heart rate that comes after meditation practice is effective in helping you to fall asleep faster.
6. Meditation Before or After Bath
The temperature of a bath is known to disrupt the natural temperature of the body which is essential to maintain in order to feel all the benefits of meditation. For example, some breathwork techniques produce heat in the body and some other meditation techniques can lower the temperature of the body. These temperature changes have physical sensations that reflect your vibrational energy during meditation practice. It is essential to avoid taking a bath at least 2 hours prior to beginning your meditation practice in order to preserve your body’s natural temperature for optimal physical sensations during your meditation.
7. Meditation Before or After Running
It has been said that when our muscles have undergone some extent of exhaustion via physical exercise – we are able to more easily sit still and move into a state of calm bliss. Meditation after exercise can also help to bring your energy levels back to a more relaxed level after being elevated by movement. Due to this benefit of exerting the muscles prior to meditating – it is recommended that you complete your meditation practice after running rather than prior to. However, for some people, meditating on motivation may help you to form a positive, motivated frame of mind prior to running.
8. Meditation Before or After Shower
In general, there is no rule to which order you should complete showering and meditation. However, some people enjoy taking a shower prior to meditating as a symbolic cleanse of the body before practice. Others take cold showers to reap the benefits including improved blood circulation, skin toning and mental readiness. You may find that your mind feels “emptier” straight after waking up, so meditation as your first step in your morning routine, followed by a shower may work best for you. Note that temperature changes caused by your shower settings have physical sensations that reflect your vibrational energy during meditation practice. Understand these physical changes and adjust your shower temperature and timing to best suit your intentions.
9. Meditate Before or After Stretching
Physical movement and meditation are both extremely beneficial activities to include in your daily regime. Some research indicates that by timing your meditation after physical movement – more benefits can be enjoyed. One of these benefits is allowing your muscles to have dedicated recovery time during your meditation. By sitting in a still position for 5-10 minutes during your practice after exercise – your muscles have the ability to recover and heal without interruption or movement. Another benefit is enjoying the happy spike of endorphins released during exercise during your meditation. These endorphins will allow you to begin with an open mind and positive attitude while reducing stress and anxiety.
10. Meditation Before or After Studying
Studies have shown that completing your meditation practice before you study improves memory, reading comprehension, and concentration. In also reduces stress and anxiety while placing you in a clear, motivated state of mind. Meditation is also a fantastic tool for developing your attention span and focus skills. These skills can be transferred to your study in order to boost productivity and reduce procrastination. Meditation has also been shown to improve long term memory retention which is useful for studying prior to exams etc. Despite these benefits, meditation is a fantastic tool to incorporate into your life at any point in time – especially when under the stress and pressure of learning new content.
11. Meditation Before or After Yoga
Meditation is known to be most beneficial after yoga or breathwork as the practices have balancing effects on the nervous system which stimulates your subtle energy (the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves that animate our body). It is also easier for us to remain still and lower our heart rate for a peaceful meditation after our muscles have been exhausted in some way via the physical aspect of yoga practice. Yoga is also known as the ‘moving meditation’ which implies that you can meditate whilst practicing yoga. Overall, meditation can be completed before or after yoga – but some research suggests that there are benefits to meditating after your yoga practice.
12. Meditation Before or After Morning Walk
Meditation can be completed before or after your morning walk. Both activities are healthy and effective in reducing stress and clearing the mind. Some research shows that meditation is especially relaxing and effective after physical movement, but others prefer to stick to a routine of meditating first thing in the morning, regardless of their daily agenda. You may also wish to meditate while you are completing your morning walk. To do this, maintain a deep, steady breath and focus on the soles of your feet as they hit the ground. Listen to the rhythm of each step and feel the security of the earth beneath your feet.
13. Meditate Before or After Exams
Taking exams is an extremely anxiety inducing and stressful task that requires optimal focus, attention span and memory retention. Luckily, meditation is effective in reducing stress, improving focus, attention span and memory retention. Completing your meditation, the morning of your exams and prior to studying for your exams will allow you to have a clear mind, focused intentions and positive outlook. Rather than being nervous, you will be on top of your emotions and ready to tackle the task at hand. Practicing deep breathing during your exam will keep you alert, relaxed and extremely focused. You will perform at your best level when incorporating meditation into your study routine.
14. Meditate Before or After Work Meetings
Work meetings can be extremely overwhelming, stressful and stimulating situations. Meditating after a work meeting may help you to organize your thoughts, calm your emotions and clear your mind of any stress or anxiety induced by the meeting. Meditating before a work meeting can also help you to improve your focus, optimize your productivity and prioritize your intentions. For example, if you are presenting an idea or plan at the meeting, meditating prior can help to keep you relaxed and focused while presenting your clear proposition. Meditation will remove the anxiety around the situation and place you in a positive frame of mind, ready for success.
15. Meditate Before or After Decisions
Meditation is a fantastic tool for improving and simplifying the process of decision making. Decisions can feel like a ‘make or break’ turning point in our lives, but they are in fact simply choices that each and every one of us need to make. Decisions all have pros and cons to each of the choices – meditation allows you to relax entirely and achieve a clear, unbiased state of mind that is ready to understand the benefits and negatives of each choice. Meditating before making a decision allows you to be in control of your own emotions and not rush a large decision before you are ready. Meditation will allow you to become aware that despite your choice, life will go on and all will be okay.