With the new year, it’s time to introduce some new practices into our lives! Since we’re always all so busy, the best thing to get started with is some meditation. It will quickly ground you and keep you in the present. Now, let’s hop right into some of the amazing benefits of meditation!
Just to clarify, meditation is taking the time to clear your head and recenter your focus through a variety of physical & mental techniques.
Reduce stress
No matter how calm we try to stay, everyone gets stressed from time to time. But if stress is a huge factor in your daily life, it can lead to serious health issues you want to avoid. Meditation allows the body to slow down, reduce the production of cortisol, and calm our nerves. Through this process, meditation also has the power of reducing other stress related issues, such as IBS and PTSD.
Reel in anxiety
This benefit is somewhat linked to the previous, as high stress levels can induce anxiety. By reducing stress, slowing down your thoughts, and controlling breathing patterns, meditation is able to reduce anxiety levels. With consistent meditation, your overall anxiety will decrease, using meditation as a preventative measure. You can also consider meditating when you sense your anxiety creeping in to avoid any negative thoughts!
Increase self-awareness
One important aspect of meditation includes understanding and controlling our thoughts. As you actively think about your thoughts and learn to control them, you can shift towards a more positive mentality. As you become more comfortable with this idea, you will begin to learn more about yourself and how to keep yourself grounded in the present moment.
Lower blood pressure
This is yet another benefit tied to stress reduction. As you meditate, your nerves begin to calm, allowing the heart to pump out blood at a normal rate compared to stress-induced situations.
Now what are you waiting for? Find a peaceful quiet place to sit down, and try to slow down your thinking and really be present in the moment to reap the benefits of meditation!
