Is It Bad to Fall Asleep While Meditating?

Have you been falling asleep while meditating? Don’t worry, it’s more common than you probably think!

Is it bad to fall asleep while meditating? No, you shouldn’t see it as a bad thing. In fact, it’s perfectly normal, especially if you’re new to meditation. It’s something you need to stop in order to fully benefit from meditation, however.

How to Stop Falling Asleep While Meditating

Falling asleep while meditating can be very frustrating. I’ve helped numerous people stop this happening though, here are some tips that should help:

Meditate Sitting up Not Laying Down

If you currently lie down while meditating, try sitting up. For a lot of people, as soon as their head hits the pillow, or they get that familiar feeling of being comfortable in bed – they start to get sleepy.

Still find a very comfortable position in a room where you’ll be free from distractions of course. Keep your spine straight and sit upright.

Meditate First Thing in the Morning

There are a number of benefits to meditating in the morning, and combating sleep is one of them. You’ll feel fresher, less tired, and you won’t have the added weight of the day’s events on your shoulders.

It’s also a great way to set yourself up for the day. You can plan your day ahead, get your head in the right frame of mind, and have a much better day as a result. Which will make your evening meditations better if you’re also doing them.

Related – 19 Ways to get into the vortex (Abraham Hicks)

Don’t Eat a Big Meal or Drink Before Meditating

Eating a big meal takes a huge toll on our bodies. Ever wondered why you feel like taking a nap after a big meal? This is because it takes a lot of energy to digest food. It’s also believed our bodies produce more serotonin, a chemical that regulates sleeping cycles after eating.

It’s also not a good idea to drink a lot before laying down or trying to be still and concentrate. This can cause stomach issues. Alcohol is a really bad idea, it inhibits our ability to think clearly!

Make Sure You’re Not Sleep Deprived (Or Too Tired)

If you’re falling asleep, it might just be a case that you’re too tired to meditate. The effort it takes, and the fact that you’re relaxing your body is enough to make you drift off to sleep.

Not getting enough sleep on a regular basis has some serious health implications. I’m not going to go into that in this post. But take it from me, for the good of your health – and so you can meditate effectively – you need to prioritize getting enough sleep.

Don’t Get Too Comfortable

Just as laying down is a signal to some people’s brains to activate sleep mode, so is getting too comfortable for some people.

If you really want or need to lay down while you meditate, don’t do it on your bed. Don’t do it anywhere or in any way that feels familiar to how you sleep.

It might even be as simple as opening a window to let some fresh air in if it’s humid.

Obviously you do need to get comfortable to get the most out of your meditation. It’s finding a balance between being too comfy, and comfy enough that you need to master.

Use a Guided Meditation Track

I remember when I first started meditating I would drift off or lose focus. My mentor suggested listening to guided tracks, and it was the best advice I was ever given.

It’s different for everyone, but for me personally, I find it so much more engaging listening to a guided track and it helped keep me more in the moment and from drifting off. Definitely worth trying if you’ve not used tracks before.

In Summary – Is It Bad to Fall Asleep While Meditating?

It’s not a bad thing if you fall asleep while meditating – but it’s something you need to work on to stop happening.

If you’re asleep, you’re not meditating.

I’m positive you’ll be able to resolve this if you do one or more of the things I recommended above.

I’ve drifted off more than a few times myself! I know how easily it can happen after a long day, or if I’ve not been sleeping well for a few days.

Don’t let it stress you out. The important thing is to always find a way to resolve issues and keep on the continual path of self-improvement.

Feel like smiling? Check out these funny meditation quotes and sayings!

Resources

Why do people feel tired after eating? – MedicalNewsToday.com

Image credits – Header image by Cristian Newman, in-body image by Smitty on Unsplash