Meditation And Sleep: Why Do I Feel Sleepy?

Feeling sleepy after meditation is a common occurrence and there are several reasons why this might happen. One reason could be that meditation allows you to become aware of your body's need for rest, which might have been previously ignored due to a busy lifestyle. Additionally, closing your eyes during meditation shuts out light, triggering sleep-inducing effects in the brain. Furthermore, the lack of mental stimulation during meditation can lead to boredom, causing sleepiness as an escape. It is important to differentiate between exhaustion and relaxation-induced sleepiness, as they indicate different needs for rest. Regular meditation practices and mindful eating habits can help reduce sleepiness over time.

Meditation uncovers existing tiredness

It is not uncommon to feel sleepy after meditating. In fact, it is perfectly normal to feel a momentary lethargy after trying to sit in silence and calm your mind.

The Body's Signals

Meditation allows your body to gain awareness of what it needs. In our busy lives, we often don't realise how tired we are until we stop and take a moment to pause. When we meditate, we give our bodies that essential attention, and the underlying tiredness that was always there begins to surface.

The Need for Rest

Modern life is demanding, and we are constantly asking more of ourselves. Even if we get a full night's sleep, we still need to rest while we are awake. True rest means doing nothing, including giving your mind a break from constant thinking. When you meditate, you are reducing the stimulation provided by these thoughts, and this allows the tiredness that was buried deep within you to come to the surface.

Accepting Sleepiness

If you find yourself yawning and struggling to keep your eyes open during meditation, don't despair. Congratulate yourself on practising real rest and allowing your body to release latent tiredness. It is important to listen to your body and give it the rest it needs.

Pinpointing the Cause

It is worth considering what is causing your sleepiness. It could be due to an association between resting and bedtime, or boredom during meditation. Over time, as you become more accustomed to meditating, your brain will stop assuming that it is time for a nap.

Practical Solutions

If closing your eyes brings on sleepiness, try keeping them open and gazing at a sacred focal object, such as a candle. You can also try chanting a mantra to keep yourself alert. Additionally, ensure you are getting enough sleep and develop a pre-meditation ritual to help your brain transition from sleep mode to meditation mode.

Closing eyes induces sleep

Closing your eyes is a signal to your brain that it's time to sleep. The absence of light is a sleep-inducing factor, and when you close your eyes to meditate, this physiological effect takes over.

Our brains are accustomed to constant activity and stimulation. When we slow down and close our eyes, our brain assumes it's time to sleep. This is especially true if the only time we slow down is when we're getting ready to sleep.

The simple act of closing your eyes and removing visual stimuli can be enough to make you feel sleepy. This is because, when you take away the stimulation of sight, your brain begins to relax and enter a more passive state.

Additionally, closing your eyes during meditation can help you focus inward and block out distractions. This inward focus can sometimes lead to a feeling of sleepiness, especially if you're already tired.

It's important to note that feeling sleepy during meditation is common and not necessarily a sign that you're doing something wrong. With consistent practice, you may find that the sleepiness decreases as your brain adjusts to the new routine.

Lack of stimulation is boring

Feeling sleepy during or after meditation is very common and there are several reasons why this might happen. One of the reasons could be a lack of stimulation, which can lead to boredom.

Our brains are used to constant activity and stimulation, so when we slow down and meditate, our brain assumes it's time to sleep. This is especially true if the only time we slow down is when we're getting ready to sleep. Closing our eyes to meditate also shuts out the light, which is a physiological cue for our brain that it's night-time.

Meditation can also be boring, especially for beginners. Our minds crave the stimulation and distractions we're used to, and without those, things can get boring. Sleep can be an effective escape from boredom, and we've all dozed off during a dull lecture or a bad TV show.

However, this sleepiness is not necessarily a bad thing. It could be a sign that your body and mind need rest, and meditation is allowing that latent tiredness to surface. Modern life is busy and demanding, and we often don't get enough rest, even if we get a full night's sleep. True rest means doing nothing, including not thinking, and meditation can provide that.

If you're feeling sleepy during meditation, it's okay to keep your eyes open and gently gaze at a sacred focal object, like a candle. Over time, with consistent practice, you'll find that the sleepiness reduces as your brain gets used to the idea that meditation isn't nap time.

Early morning meditation can feel like sleep time

It's not uncommon to feel sleepy during meditation, and it doesn't necessarily mean you're doing it wrong. There are several reasons why you might feel sleepy when meditating, and the time of day could be a factor.

The time of day

Meditating early in the morning can make you feel like you're still in sleep mode. For example, if you wake up at 5:45 am to meditate, your brain may still think it's nighttime, making it challenging to maintain a state of alertness. The transition from sleep to meditation without any break in between can easily lead to drifting off or feeling sleepy.

Association with bedtime

Our brains often associate slowing down and relaxation with bedtime. When we meditate and intentionally slow down, our brains may interpret this as a signal to prepare for sleep. This association is especially strong if we usually keep ourselves busy and active throughout the day.

Lack of light

Closing your eyes during meditation shuts out the light, sending a signal to your brain that it's nighttime. The absence of light has sleep-inducing effects, and this physiological response can make you feel sleepy during meditation.

Tiredness awareness

Meditation can bring awareness to underlying tiredness that you might not have noticed due to a busy or stimulating lifestyle. When you slow down and quiet your mind, the tiredness that was already there can come to the surface. This doesn't necessarily mean that meditation is making you tired; instead, it's allowing you to recognize and address your body's need for rest.

Recommendations

If you frequently feel sleepy during early morning meditation, you can try developing a pre-meditation ritual to help your brain transition from sleep mode to meditation mode. This could include gentle yoga, a quick shower, or a cup of tea before your practice. Additionally, you might experiment with keeping your eyes open during meditation or gazing at a sacred focal object, such as a candle or mandala. Chanting a mantra can also help keep you alert and present. Remember, the goal is not to force yourself to stay awake but to create a sacred time and space for your meditation practice.

You may need more sleep

It is very common to feel sleepy when meditating, and it doesn't necessarily mean that you are doing it wrong. There are several reasons why you might be feeling sleepy after meditation, and one of them is that you may simply need more sleep.

Our brains are used to us constantly running around and being in an active state. When we finally slow down and stop to rest, our brains often assume it is time to take a nap. This is especially true if the only time we slow down is when we are getting ready to sleep. Closing your eyes to meditate can trigger a physiological response in your brain, as the lack of light is known to have sleep-inducing effects.

Additionally, meditation can be challenging, especially if you are new to the practice. It can be difficult for our minds to adjust to the lack of stimulation and distraction that we are accustomed to. As a result, meditation can sometimes feel boring, and sleep can be an effective escape from boredom.

If you are meditating early in the morning, it may still feel like sleep time to your brain, making it difficult to maintain a state of alertness. Furthermore, meditation forces us to confront how we are truly feeling, and you may realize that you are more tired than you thought.

If you consistently feel sleepy after meditating, it may be a sign that you need to prioritize sleep and rest more. Make sure you are getting enough sleep each night, and consider developing a pre-meditation ritual to help your brain transition from sleep mode to meditation mode. This could include gentle yoga, a cup of tea, or a quick shower. Remember, meditation is not a substitute for a good night's rest. By ensuring you get adequate sleep, you will be better equipped to fully benefit from your meditation practice.

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