If you have been reading a book for awhile, then put it down to take a break and just sat there quietly and peacefully for a few minutes without thinking, this is close to meditation. In many traditions meditation practice is a means for reinforcing ethical qualities. In these traditions, calmness of mind, peacefulness and happiness are possible in meditation and in life generally only if they are accompanied by the observance of ethical norms of behavior. While meditation is beneficial at any time, most people who meditate agree that early morning is the best time to meditate. Having an early morning meditation also lets us carry some of the energy and peace of the meditation into our daily activities.
Many people also meditate either before dinner or later in the evening.
Others also meditate at noon. A short meditation at these times allows one to throw off some of the accumulated stress of the work-day and become rejuvenated for further activity. An important consideration is when your schedule will allow you to meditate. Having a time of the day set aside for meditation helps in maintaining regularity. Also, some people find meditation relatively easy but find that the hard thing is to actually get themselves to sit down and start their meditation.