"I just can't stay awake. "
say most meditators at one time or another.

Boredom

Sleep Deprivation

Avoidance

There will be flight delays, but there are ​

Skillful Solutions

Awareness of sleep

• Become aware of your sleep patterns and needs
• Are you sleep deprived like most people in this culture?
• If you are sleep deprived, you will likely fall asleep whenever you become still enough to meditate.  This could be seen as a benefit of meditation, helping you to get some needed sleep.  But in the long run, addressing your sleep deprivation will be the most healthy for your body, your mind, your relationships, your emotions, your productivity, your relationships....
• read the Mindful Living page on Sleeping and try some of the Sleep meditations in the Library

Awareness of nutrition and activity

• Become aware of your nutrition.  If your body is not getting the nutrition it needs, your mind will have a difficult time remaining alert.
• Become aware of your activity level and physical fitness.  If your body is not getting the physical stimulation that it needs, your mind will have a difficult time remaining alert.
• Become aware of your hydration.  If your body is not getting the water that it needs, your mind will have a difficult time remaining alert.

Awareness of medications

• Are you medicating your physical pain?  Do not cease any prescribed medication without medical advice and supervision.  But if medication is interfering with your ability to meditate due to drowsiness, discuss alternatives and develop a plan with your health care provider.
• Are you medicating your busy or worried mind?  If you are using prescription medication to hold your mind at bay, and this is interfering with your ability to meditate due to drowsiness, discuss alternatives and develop a plan with your mental health care provider.  
• Are you self medicating emotional pain?  If you wish to stop using chemicals to manage your emotional pain, and have been unable to do so, you may need assistance with that effort.

Courage and Persistence

• Meditation may lay bare some difficult and possibly disturbing thoughts, emotions and memories.  
• Sometimes our minds will shut down and enter sleep in order to avoid them.
• If you are not medicated, are not sleep deprived, are healthy and hydrated, then drowsiness may be your mind's resistance to facing difficult thoughts, emotions and memories.

Meditation Postures

sitting
​standing
kneeling

Movement Meditations

walking
Tai Chi
​Yoga