The spring season is just around the corner. For many, this is a time of renewal and lightness. Thank goodness! In addition to annual tasks like spring cleaning and decluttering…you may also want to add meditation to your seasonal to-do list. There are many meditation health benefits to consider. Some of the most noteworthy include reduced stress, increased focus, improved memory function, and a deeper connection to self. With a new season just beginning, this is the perfect time to start a mediation practice of your very own.
Meditation Health Benefits – What You Need to Know
First thing is first: just what is meditation? Before you can start experiencing meditation health benefits it is vital to understand just what the practice entails. Essentially meditation is a way to transform the mind. The process of deep breathing and focus has been found to increase clarity and relaxation. Mediation can be practiced in a number of ways. For instance, it might involve you sitting in silence or could involve the help of a guide. There might be music playing. Or you could be sitting on the floor, lying down, or perhaps getting comfy in your favourite chair. There are many different ways to practice. It is all about finding what works for you.
Reduce Stress With Meditation
How busy is your schedule? Is your to-do list never ending? Do you leave a stack of unread papers on your desk each night? Society has never been more go, go, go than it is right now. We get information instantly, which means people want instant responses. There are so many balls to juggle that we tend to forget about the importance of self. That is where the first benefit comes into play. This technique helps quiet the mind and reduce feelings of stress and overwhelm.
When our bodies are under stress, a fight or flight response takes over. This response makes your heart race, can make it difficult to breathe, and increases blood pressure. Since there are so many little stressors (as well as larger stressors) in our busy lifestyles, additional strain is constantly put on the body. Meditation has been proven to reduce stress through what is known as a relaxation response. This process slows down your breathing and returns your heart rate to normal…which in turn, lowers blood pressure.
Meditate to Increase Your Focus
With so much going on all the time, it can seem impossible to focus on just one task. Or to focus at all. Typically, most of us are multi-tasking constantly. However, when an inability to focus takes over, productivity plummets. Believe it or not, meditation can actually help combat this issue. Studies have shown that sitting in silence for twenty minutes a day can increase your ability to focus and even boost your attention span. Taking time away from your hectic schedule to meditate will help you get back on track (and focus on everything you need to do) much faster.
Though there are many meditation health benefits, increased focus is one of the best! Since this practice involves clearing your mind – or concentrating on a sound, word, or intention – it requires dedicated focus. Every time your mind wanders, your aim is to gently bring it back to a place of stillness and peace. Over time, it becomes easier and easier to do this. As a result, you are training your mind to focus on one task at a time. In addition to improved focus during meditation, you may also find that you are able to express yourself more creatively.
Better Your Memory Function Through Meditation
Everyone wants a strong mind. Thankfully, one of the main meditation health benefits is improved brain function. Studies show that regular meditation increases grey matter in sections of the brain that are specifically related to memory. It also can impact your ability to control emotions as well as being able to reflect introspectively. Not to mention, your problem solving skills, which will quickly become top notch.
In addition, concentration (also referred to as attention control) is linked to memory recall. Essentially, the better you can concentrate, the easier it becomes to create strong and concrete memories. Those detailed memories are then easier to remember. Meditation makes it easier to focus and concentrate…and this in turn boosts memory function and brain health.
Connect to Yourself on a Deeper Level
While there are many meditation health benefits, the last on the list can do an awful lot of good. Meditation can give you perspective, clear your mind, and strengthen your connection to self. This is essential. Sometimes, it can be hard to step back and take an objective look at life. Often we get caught up in the little things, the minor annoyances, and the constant pressures. That is where meditation comes in handy. The process can make you happier and reduce depression…and can even give you some much-needed perspective on your current situation.
Maybe you feel like nothing is going your way. Or perhaps you were overlooked for a promotion you truly deserved. It could be that you are struggling to be loving and nurturing towards yourself. Whatever the situation, try incorporating meditation into your lifestyle. Before long, looking inward (and shutting out external stresses and strains) will help you feel loved, grateful, and connected to the world around you.
There are countless meditation health benefits to consider. If you are nervous about getting started, don’t be. This is something that requires both practice and patience – but will become easier to do as time goes by. Consistency is key. Before long, meditation will become second nature, and you will look forward to those relaxing (and beneficial) moments of peace.
