It is recommended to chant japa in the early morning hours because it is the quietest part of the day before other duties start vying for our attention, and it is also the most auspicious time for spiritual practice. You can also divide your number of rounds throughout the day if it is not possible to finish them all in the morning. Most important is the undivided focus and concentration on every name of the Lord as we are uttering them.
Usually, temple morning japa sessions start with reading out loudly ‘The 10 Offences of the Holy Name’ to establish the proper mood before chanting. You can find below the 10 offences listed and also a PowerPoint presentation with a deeper explanation of each verse.