Falling asleep …

[Wee Gee]

Hi,
I am new here and new to meditation, so apologies if this has already been discussed:


I’m a ‘Waking Up’ app. user (… and hence meditator) since July this year, and things are going well, except … my schedule means I have to meditate quite late (just before bed).

I am constantly battling with either repeatedly falling asleep and suddenly catching myself … or repeatedly hitting this hypnagogic, short-lived dream-like state … and catching myself. I really feel like this is impeding my progress. Any advice from more seasoned meditators?

G.

[raushan]

If possible do mediation first thing in the morning. If you aren't able to do that what you are doing is also fine. Sleepiness and all that it's part of the process. Keep doing.

[Wee Gee]

Many thanks Raushan … 

[Whoami]

Meditation gives you access to your inner depths. This means that meditation lets you know how you actually are feeling.

During my First 3 years of meditating, i always became extremely tired, because in reality; my mind was tired. Do you see what im saying?

The mind and body can be tired but kept ”Awake” by stress/social pressure/cultural pressure/and so on



Keep meditating, and keep falling asleep it will change in time.

But as a general rule that one often hear is:

-keeping a cool temp in the room can make you more awake
-sitting with a straight spice is good
-if you can handle meditating with open eyes, that can be advisible

[JAB2202]

Hello Wee Gee,

I am meditating for a while now and it still happens to me sometimes. Ive noticed when I meditate to ealy (4:50 am), I'll tend to fall asleep to. It also happend to me that I was sleeping in half lotus position bended forward, because I do that sometimes, if pain or incomfort gets me.
Id recommend, like Goenka advices, straighten up your back when you notice it. You could also stand up and walk around shortly. Whenever possible try to meditate at times when youre not to tired, e.g. before dinner. I would not recommend to open your eyes, since the mind gets to distracted.

With Metta,
Jackie

[mobius]

Just to reiterate what others already said;

same exact thing happened to me, and indeed; what I realized is meditation helped me to realize that I wasn't getting enough sleep. If I meditate on a day when I *had* gotten enough sleep the night before the difference is like night and day (no pun intended).

Besides being sleepy during meditation, on an occasions when I hadn't slept enough, I also now recognize an easily noticeable difference in my general mood, demeanor and ability to focus. My mind wonders off MUCH easier when sleepy and sometimes meditation is near impossible depending on how sleepy I am.

Where as being well rested, I can usually 'get into the groove' of meditation very quickly and stay there much longer.

[Dhamma]

Sleep is vital for overall health and well-being.

It is very undervalued and downplayed in our society.

We must sleep -- and sleep well!


Peace and enlightenment.