Question: I get sleepy when I meditate. How can I keep from falling asleep?
Answer: This is one of the most common challenges for meditators, so you are not alone! True meditation needs an alert state of mind, not a dull, subconscious one.
There are three main causes for sleepiness that comes to mind:
- You are physically tired, sleep deprived, or have low energy.
- Your posture is incorrect, which is causing you to become sleepy.
- You are experiencing mental resistance. Your mind isn’t used to being still, and it “tunes out” as a form of avoidance—much like getting sleepy during a boring lecture.
The Most Important Fix: Sit Up Straight
This is the single biggest solution. A slumped spine is a “sleepy” spine. When you slouch, you cut off the flow of energy to your brain, which makes you feel dull and drowsy.
Solution: Sit on a straight-backed chair, away from the backrest. Keep your spine straight, your chest lifted (like a “proud” but relaxed soldier), and your chin parallel to the floor. This erect posture makes it physically difficult to fall asleep.
Lift Your Gaze
Gently let your gaze flow into the space in front of you, but aimed a little above eye level. This naturally aligns your gaze with the point between the eyebrows (the spiritual eye). This simple, physical act of “looking up” helps to keep you awake and alert.
Bring In Extra Oxygen
Open a window and let some air in. Keep yourself covered with a shawl or blanket if it’s cold. You can also try taking a few deep breaths in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This extra oxygen may just be what’s needed to stay awake and alert during your practice.
Bring in More Energy
Take a double breath in (short inhale followed by a long inhale), tense the whole body, then double exhale (short exhale, followed by a long) and relax. Do this a few times. This type of breathing and tensing the body both require conscious effort. This use of your will brings a fresh supply of energy and helps you stay alert.
Few more tips:
If you think you are sleep deprived, do something about it.
Avoid meditating on a full stomach. It makes you sleepy.
For the evening meditation, meditate before you are overly tired.
It’s better to meditate a short time and be fully awake than try and do a longer meditation where you fall asleep.
We hope this helps! Let us know in the comments below.