The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is a centuries-old practice that has recently made its way into the mainstream. An increasing number of people are practicing meditation at home and in groups. There are countless apps and videos claiming to undo your stress and unwind your mind. But how effective is meditation and how can you utilize this tool to help with daily stress and anxiety? Let’s dive in…

Meditation can be used as a coping skill in a moment of stress or crisis.
It can also be used preemptively to naturally calm the body prior to a stressful situation or conversation. In an 8-week study, participants who practiced “mindfulness meditation” saw a decrease in cortisol levels, the stress hormone. High levels of cortisol can affect sleep patterns, depressive symptoms, blood pressure, and can contribute to other health issues. Researchers in this study also saw that most participants reported alleviated symptoms of stress after mediation sessions. 

Meditation can help improve memory as sessions boost mental clarity.
This can be particularly important for people who suffer from mental ‘fogginess’ as a result of depression or other mood disorders, as well as a side effect from certain medications. Participating in frequent meditation sessions can increase blood flow to the brain, which may strengthen memory capacity, creating stronger connections in the cerebral cortex. Another study assessing the benefits of meditation reported that consistent mediation could increase everyday brain function, which could increase memory capacity and aid in emotional regulation. Overall, meditation has the ability to relieve stress, reduce anxiety and depression levels, and increase brain functioning.

Meditation can allow us to become more self aware.
Most guided meditations ask us personal questions that force us to be truly honest with ourselves. Answering these questions and diving deep into our own reasoning for our answers can be enlightening. It allows us to reinforce behaviors that we want to continue and also recognize choices that we may want to change. Forcing ourselves to sit alone with our thoughts—something we don’t get to do often with so many screens around us nowadays—can promote a greater understanding of ourselves and help us set internal goals. 

It’s important to note that there is no singular way to meditate. Meditation can take various shapes and forms, depending on what works best for you. People who feel mediation has not worked for them in the past may want to try different techniques and approaches if they are looking to give it another chance. For example, many people who try to meditate struggle with unguided meditation. Without a guiding voice, or encouraging prompts, it can be hard for some people to turn off their mind and allow themselves to truly be in the moment (myself included). Some people find that classes with others allow them to be more present as you’re all working toward a common goal, while others find classmates distracting. Some people find that guided meditations, where a leader creates the atmosphere and prompts you to answer internal questions, are easier to start off with, while others like the freedom of just letting their mind wander.

Essentially, know that meditation is flexible and wide-ranging. The way in which you meditate matters less than the calming results you achieve from it. The goal is to find the method that works for you and keep it up on a regular basis for best results!