Is Meditation Good For Your Brain?
People of all faiths and cultures have used meditation and mindfulness for thousands of years. Meditation is often used as a catch-all phrase to describe a purposeful clearing or focusing of the mind. Sometimes meditation involves focusing on the breath or other aspect of the physical body. Other times, meditation may involve holding a word, phrase, or image in the mind.
Meditation may be done as a form of prayer, but it can also be used in therapy, or simply as a way to slow down and disconnect from the chaos around us.
You don’t have to belong to any particular religion to experience the benefits of meditation.
Often meditation is done while seated, but walking or other forms of movement can also be part of a meditation practice. From the outside, it might look like much is going on when you meditate. But meditation may actually improve your brain health.
How Can Meditation help your brain?
People who meditate regularly will often tell you how much better they feel with a daily practice. In the past, skeptics might have questioned how sitting quietly, not working or studying, or frankly doing much of anything at all could be helpful. Now, new research is beginning to clarify the benefits of meditation and to help us understand more about the way the brain works.
Meditation can help your brain by
Improving the ability of the brain to pay attention to a task
Enhancing body awareness
Helping you to regulate your emotions
Increasing capacity for memory
Boosting your sleep quality
Given all these benefits, you might be tempted to start meditation at the end of a long day. However, it turns out that despite its calming effects, meditation can actually increase the brain’s wakefulness. So if you’re struggling with sleep, a morning meditation might be a better choice.
Getting started with meditation may feel a little overwhelming. But a good session may be as close as your smartphone. A few apps I like are
Meditation isn’t for everyone. Occasionally it can even cause feelings of anxiety or agitation. If you are dealing with mental health concerns, check with your physician or therapist before starting a meditation practice.
And if you are new to meditation, start slow. One study found that even five minutes of daily meditation could make a difference. You can find a variety of three to five minute meditations on line, including on my YouTube site.
Meditation isn’t magical or mysterious. But it may enhance your well-being, improve your focus, and even help you to sleep a little better at night.
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