THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION IN 2019

Sleep. Work. Hussle. Socialise. Sleep. Repeat. All good – but sometimes it can be ‘stop the world, I want to get off!’ Could meditation be the way to achieve calm amidst the storm of modern life?

WHAT IS MEDITATION ANYWAY?

The dictionary (remember those?) defines meditation as ‘the exercise of the mind in contemplation’. Whatever you are contemplating, meditation gives a set of tools to focus attention and be more aware.

Meditation and mindfulness go hand in hand. Mindfulness is really the art of ‘noticing what is going on’. In our overloaded environment, we could all do with more of that.

HOW DO I MEDITATE?

Many gyms offer meditation sessions as part of your Hussle pass. Meantime here is one way to begin unguided meditation. Make yourself comfortable in a good chair, or sitting on the floor if you prefer.

Concentrate on you and you alone. Focus on relaxed breathing; a breath ball app is a good way to do this. (Turn off all other alerts on your phone!) Keep your mind calm and clear. ‘Scan’ down your body, making yourself aware of all your position and feelings.

Meditation only needs a few minutes to begin with.

If you're new to it all and haven't a clue where to start, check out one of the apps for meditation, such as Headspace.

WHAT CAN MEDITATION DO FOR ME?

A scientific study of 54 adults showed that mindfulness-based meditation really did improve insomnia. It also improved quality of sleep as well as sleep time.

Meditation reduces stress, which has all sorts of physical and mental health benefits. It has also been shown to reduce overeating. That’s not because people spend hours meditating, but because they are no longer eating as a stress-buster or mood lifter.

A bit of ‘me time’ in peace can also give you a chance to get thoughts in order. That’s a great way to set priorities. Don’t sweat the small stuff, as they say.

Taking some time out to stop, be aware and be calm can make all the difference. Give meditation a try.

Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash