5 Reasons to Consider Meditation

Although it seems odd (just sitting there is actually good for us?) meditation provides a whole lot of benefits many of which have been scientifically studied. It seems that 8 weeks is the sweet spot for objectively observed improvements.

Some people have difficulty when they start to meditate. If that is you then try it in small doses at a time; even 2 minutes. Don’t get frustrated when thoughts pop into your mind, just release them. You can also try counting your breaths. Breathe in 1, breathe out 1. Breathe in 2, breathe out 2. Continue until you get to 10 and then you can start over at 1. Gradually increase your meditation time as it becomes easier for you.

1 — Reduce Stress

Stress causes all sorts of unpleasant reactions in our bodies besides the actual feeling of being stressed. Things like sleep disruption, increased blood pressure, fatigue, brain fog, depression and anxiety. Meditation gives you a better grasp of reality. It gives you space to work through things and helps you respond better to stressful situations.

2 - Improves Self-Awareness

Meditation helps you have better insights into your self and improve your self-awareness. When you know yourself better you can make better decisions. It also helps you handle your emotions a bit better, allowing you to feel the feels without letting them control you.

3 — Connect Better With Others

Some times when we are around others it can be hard to give them your focus…which doesn’t allow for those wonderful moments of connection. Meditation helps you be in the here and now and give your attention fully to whoever you’re with.

4 — Lengthens Attention Span

Meditation helps strengthen your “attention muscles” and can lengthen your attention and improve your accuracy while doing tasks. You don’t need to meditate for an hour to start seeing improvements either. A study found that daily 13 min meditations showed improvement with attention and memory in 8 weeks. 

5 — Structurally Changes Your Brain

Meditation can positively change the structure of your brain and increase your wellbeing. A study shows that in only 8 weeks positive changes occurred in the areas of the brain responsible for memory and learning, emotional regulation, as well as the brain’s fear center. In addition to the hard data the scientists recorded, the participants also felt depressed stress and increased calm over that time.