Choosing when to meditate is a very personal choice, and everyone should do what is best for them. Many people choose to meditate first thing in the morning, before breakfast, as that is a time free from distractions. However, for others, meditating before breakfast is distracting due to hunger and sleepiness, and after breakfast is the right choice.
This list of pros and cons can help you decide what is better for you.
Pros of Meditating Before Breakfast
There are many benefits to meditating before breakfast, including the following.
1. Start the Day Off Right
When you meditate first thing in the morning, even before breakfast, that means you are setting the right tone for the day. You are starting the day off by doing something that is healthy for yourself, setting an intention for living the day right, and lowering your stress levels.
2. Eliminate Any Distractions
The longer you wait to meditate, the more likely it is that you will get distracted by food, checking something on your phone, or any of life’s other little distractions.
When you meditate first thing in the morning, you don’t allow space for distractions to come in and disrupt your focus. Honing your focus first thing in the morning also makes it easier to remain focused throughout the day.
3. Build Consistent Habits
One of the main tips experts use when advising people on building consistent habits is to repeat a habit at the same time every day. Repetition and consistency make it more likely that a task will stick as a recurring habit.
Linking meditation to a consistent time of day, such as first thing after you wake up, is one of the best ways to make sure that you build a consistent meditation practice.
Check out this quick grounding meditation to practice before eating breakfast.
Cons of Meditating Before Breakfast
While meditating first thing in the morning works for many people, it does not always mean you have to do it before breakfast. Meditating before breakfast doesn’t always work for people for the following reasons.
1. You’re Distracted by Hunger
When you wake up in the morning, you might feel very hungry because you haven’t eaten anything all night. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t need to eat first thing in the morning or physically cannot, then meditating before breakfast can work.
However, if you feel faint or distracted by hunger without breakfast, then you won’t be able to focus on your meditation anyway.
2. You Won’t Focus if You’re Not a Morning Person
Some people simply are not morning people, meaning they do not feel alert or focused until later in the day.
If you know that applies to you, it makes no sense to wake up earlier and squeeze in meditation time before breakfast and the rest of your busy daily routine. Instead of focusing on meditation, you will just feel sleepy and sluggish.
3. It Might Add Stress to An Already-Busy Morning Routine
The purpose of meditation is to help you focus and reduce stress levels. However, if mornings are your busiest times of day with work, school, or family obligations, trying to squeeze in meditation will just add to your stress.
Try to meditate during a calmer time of day for you instead, such as before bed or during your lunch break.
Pros of Meditating After Breakfast
Even if you don’t like meditating on an empty stomach, you can still add meditation to your morning routine by meditating right after breakfast and gaining some of these benefits.
1. You Won’t Be Distracted by Hunger
Meditating after breakfast means that you won’t be distracted by the discomfort of hunger and the low energy and sluggishness brought on by low glucose levels. A light breakfast can increase your serotonin levels and help you focus.
2. Meditation Improves Digestion
Meditating after breakfast ensures that you start the day off right by directing your focus and improving digestion. Meditation is proven to help with digesting your food and can help ensure that you don’t have any stomach problems after finishing your breakfast.
3. Reduce Your Food Cravings
Do you find yourself reaching for a mid-morning snack soon after breakfast? Meditation can actually help you reduce snacking after breakfast by reducing your food cravings. Meditating makes you more mindful of what you eat, which will help you feel fuller for longer.
Cons of Meditating After Breakfast
However, meditating right after breakfast doesn’t work for everyone for the following reasons.
1. Digestion Is Distracting
Meditating right after any meal, not just breakfast, is difficult because it is harder to focus. During digestion, your body directs energy to your digestive system, making you more sluggish. One way to get around this is to eat a lighter meal before meditating.
2. It’s Easier to Get Distracted
Preparing and eating breakfast makes it easier to get distracted before you turn to meditating. It’s tempting to just look at your phone while you eat, and before you know it, you’ve been scrolling through social media and need to hustle to get to work.
Meditating before breakfast or first thing in the morning makes it easier to avoid distractions altogether.
Is Meditation Better on an Empty Stomach?
For most people, meditation is better on an empty stomach because they feel more focused and energetic. However, some people find it harder to meditate on an empty stomach because all they can think about is their hunger.
For others, health reasons such as diabetes and low blood pressure mean it is crucial to eat as soon as they feel hungry instead of meditating.
Should You Meditate First Thing in the Morning?
Meditating first thing in the morning makes it easier to create a consistent meditation practice and focus on the day ahead without letting distractions get in the way.
However, if your morning routine is already busy or you know that you find it hard to focus in the mornings, you should meditate some other time.
When Should I Eat After Meditation?
You can eat any time that you like after you are finished meditating. The bigger challenge is finding the right time to eat before meditation, which is why many people eat breakfast after meditating.
Conclusion
Meditating before breakfast is a great way to build a consistent morning routine and get the benefits of meditation, such as lower stress levels and better focus. It is not recommended for people who struggle with focusing while hungry or have already-packed morning routines.