Does Meditation Make You Sleepy? How To Stay Awake
If you are new to meditation, you may be experiencing some things that you didn’t expect such as feeling really sleepy. Sometimes you come out of your meditation clear, focused, and energized. Other times you feel like you could lay down for a nap. You may be wondering, “does meditation make you sleepy”?
The short answer is yes, it can. It can cause you to feel like you need to nap or go relax. However, it doesn’t mean that you are doing it wrong as there is no right way to meditate. But if you don’t want to feel sleepy, then one simple hack can turn your sleepy meditation into a profound energized, experience.
In this article, we go over exactly why you are sleepy and how to easily fix it so that you have a great meditation every time.
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Why Does Meditation Make You Sleepy?
Meditation can make you sleepy because you are entering into different brainwave states that are connected to sleep. When you meditate you go tune your brainwaves to alpha, theta, and delta states. These are also the states you go into while you sleep which is why you get tired. While you won’t be fully in these states, especially delta as it’s related to deep sleep, your brainwaves will start to tune into them.
Also, if you lack sleep then going into a meditation will cause your body will get sleepy because it’s craving rest. It’s not getting enough sleep and so it sees this as a chance to get it what it wants.
How to Not Fall Asleep When Meditating
1. Where Are You Meditating? Choose Somewhere Other Than Your Bed
It’s important that when you start meditating, you practice it in a place other than your bed. You associate certain things with different activities. Therefore, when you see or lay in those things your brain tells you to take a certain action.
Your bed is used for sleep. So, if you are meditating in your bed, your brain says, “it’s time to sleep.” It’s an automatic response as this is what happens every time you get into your bed. As you’ve repeated this pattern, you’ve conditioned your body to act in a certain way i.e., Sleep.
If you are meditating in your bed and feel really sleepy, try to do it in a different area. Pick a meditation chair that you will use only for that purpose. This will condition your body and mind to that new behavior, and you are less likely to fall asleep when meditating.
2. What Time Are You Meditating? Choose a Different Time to Meditate
If you meditate upon first waking up or right before bed, you are more likely to fall asleep. You are already feeling sleepy and adding an activity such as meditation can make you fall right back to sleep.
I noticed that I kept falling asleep in my morning meditation. However, I wanted to do it first thing and liked it that I was a bit sleepy because it’s easier for me to sit still and focus. So, instead of doing it the second I woke up, I’d get up and spend a few minutes doing something else. This was enough time to wake me up enough so that I didn’t fall asleep, but I’d still be sleepy enough to have a good meditation.
Turn on a light, grab a drink of water, go to the bathroom and wake yourself up somewhat before going to meditate. This should be enough to help you to not fall asleep.
If you are doing it in the evening, try to do it before you get too tired. If you notice that you are getting really tired, move around for a couple of minutes, turn the lights up and wake yourself up somewhat before meditating.
Of course, if you do your meditation in the middle of the day, you are less likely to fall asleep. If you can do it in the afternoon, you are more likely to stay awake.
3. Did You Just Eat a Big Meal? Don’t Stuff Yourself Before Meditating
Eating a big, carb-filled meal will cause you to be sleepier. If you can, try to have something light before meditating or nothing at all. If you are eating a lot, it will make you sleepier.
On the other hand, if you are starving and don’t eat enough you may have a hard time sitting and concentrating. Try to have something light and healthy before meditating to have the best experience and to not fall asleep.
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4. How Are You Sitting? Lying Down Will Make You More Likely to Fall Asleep
There’s nothing wrong with lying down to meditate, you don’t have to sit up. However, if you are lying down and always falling asleep then it’s worth it to try a different way. Sitting up during your meditation will make you less likely to fall asleep.
You can also try a walking or standing meditation if you want. Some meditations are made specifically for walking and not lying down. See what works best for you and notice how your experience is when switching up your body position.
5. Does Meditation Make You Sleepy? Meditate With Your Eyes Open
There are so many ways to meditate, and you don’ have to keep your eyes closed. While there are many benefits to having your eyes closed, you can meditate with them open. Having them closed helps to block out visual sensory information, however, everyone is different, and doing it with your eyes open may work better for you.
If you are falling asleep every time you close your eyes, why not try to meditate with your eyes open? You may even have a better experience than with your eyes closed. There are no rules that you have to meditate a certain way. Try it out!
6. Are You Meditating Alone? Try a Group Meditation
You are less likely to fall asleep during a group meditation as other people are around and you won’t feel as comfortable falling asleep.
Group meditations are great for staying awake but there are also other benefits from it. In a group meditation setting, the energy is more powerful, and you may have some great experiences from all that energy. I’ve had my most profound experiences in group meditations. The energy was different and super powerful.
Group meditations are also great for keeping you accountable. If you have a hard time sticking to a regular meditation practice or quit after 5 minutes, a group will keep you on track. You will feel more obligated to stay for the whole meditation and not bail after a few minutes. They will also notice if you aren’t there so it’s a great way to keep you accountable.
7. Does Meditation Make You Sleepy? Open a Window
Fresh air energizes you. If you haven’t been outside all day and are needing a little pick me up, try opening a window. The fresh air will raise your vibration, help to center you and help you to stay awake. If it’s nice out, pop open a window for your meditation and breath in some of the refreshing air.
8. What Type of Meditation Are You Doing? Switch it Up!
If you are bored to death in your meditation, it will make you sleepy. There are many different types of meditations, try mixing it up.
If you are doing a silent one, try a guided one. If you are doing a guided one, try a new one with a different voice and music. Find one with more upbeat music that is more stimulating to your mind.
Switching up your type of meditation can make a huge difference in your experience. Meditation doesn’t have to be about slow and relaxing. It can be upbeat and intense. Dr. Joe Dispenza does this really well. He’s made some meditations that are higher intensity and super powerful. They aren’t your typical ‘sleepy’ meditations.
I also really enjoy doing iAwake’s meditations. They have so many different options to choose from and their app makes it super easy to listen to. If you want to try them out, you can get 3 FREE tracks right HERE.
9. How Long Are You Meditating For? Try a Shorter Meditation
If you are meditating for an hour, your chances of falling asleep are higher. Why not try out a shorter one. See how you feel after a 15-minute meditation. If you aren’t sleepy, then you can also do it twice or do another one right after the first one if you want.
You may feel that if the meditation is one hour long, you need to do it all to feel a sense of accomplishment. You don’t have to. Any amount of meditation is better than nothing. Try cutting it in half or doing a shorter one to avoid falling asleep.
Final Thoughts – Does Meditation Make You Sleepy?
If you are having trouble staying awake during your meditation, these 9 tips will help you to stay awake. It can be as simple as changing the time you meditate or moving your meditation to a new room.
There are no rules when it comes to meditation, and you don’t have to do it a certain way. Everyone is unique and what works best for you is unique to you.
So, try out a new way to meditate and notice how your experience goes. One simple hack may make all the difference between a meditation that falls flat and the most powerful meditation you ever have.
(Click here to watch on YouTube)
~Meghan
P.S. If you’re looking for a high-quality, in-depth meditation program that is easy to stick with, then I highly recommend you check out iAwake Meditations.
iAwake Meditations have helped me tremendously!
They have so many different kinds of tracks for people who are passionate about waking up, healing, and making a difference.
I really think you’ll benefit from it and I highly recommend it.
