Mindfulness Meditation Benefits

January 13, 2021 Being Zen

Will starting a mindfulness meditation practice be worth the effort? What are the rewards? Will the payoff be worth the time invested?

Let’s be honest, we live in a culture of busyness. We get up, grab a banana or a bagel and hurry off to work.

All-day we rush to meet deadlines and often deal with unpleasant bosses and co-workers.

Many days we leave work later than planned. Arriving home, we start dinner and remember the kids have no clean clothes for school tomorrow, so we start a load of laundry.

After eating dinner and helping with homework we get the kids off to bed. Then we pull out the laptop and do a little work until we’re brain dead.

We watch an hour of television to “unwind” and then crash into bed. At last! Finally, time to relax and rest. Then the thoughts begin. Everything we didn’t get done at work, the catty remark a co-worker made, worries that your child is not reading at age level, that big mistake you made at your first job twenty years ago, the test you failed in sixth grade, and on it goes.

You finally fall into a heavy sleep shortly before your alarm blares.

Then you do it all over again.

And now you have people telling you to meditate and be more mindful. Well sure, you’d love to have an hour every morning to sit and breathe and think peaceful thoughts. But you’re barely getting through the day as it is.

Before you give up a minute of your precious time you want to know – will it be worth it? What are the tangible benefits of mindfulness meditation?

The answer is – there are many. Your life can change for the better if you’re willing to devote some time each day to some simple mindfulness exercises.

How does your phone work better? If you charge it or if you let it go dead? Your mind and your body need to recharge, as well.

Here are a few of the benefits of mindfulness meditation:

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Improved Concentration and Productivity

There’s a reason why so many C.E.O.’s of major companies are now practicing mediation – and encouraging their employees to do the same.

Minutes spent in meditation will allow you to return to your work with better focus and more clarity. You’ll be able to get more done in the hours you spend at work.

Mindfulness meditation teaches you how to focus on the task at hand and nothing else. You get more done by avoiding all the side trips caused by distractions and “multitasking”.

Reduced Stress and Anxiety

A daily meditation practice will calm your nerves and release built-up stress. It lowers stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

Meditation increases your appreciation of the current moment, so you focus less on past mistakes or future worries.

Since stress can cause inflammation, reducing it can prevent many future health problems.

Studies have also shown meditation can also help those who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety.

Improved Brain Function

In 2012, a Harvard study was done by Sara Lazar who works with the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program. It showed that only eight weeks of meditation resulted in thicker brain cells in four major regions of the brain.

The benefits of meditation included an improvement in focus, self-reliance, memory, and emotional regulation among other things.

Better Sleep

When your mind is going a hundred miles an hour sleep is not going to happen. But what if you could relax your mind? Meditation helps you learn to take your thoughts less seriously and calm your mind and body. Thus, allowing a peaceful night’s rest.

A study by the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System showed mindfulness meditation helped participants with their insomnia. They were able to fall asleep quicker and maintain a deeper level of sleep throughout the night.

Improved Health

Stress is a factor in many health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure to name a few. Reducing your stress with meditation can help avoid the onset or lower the effects of these issues.

Meditation has also been shown to improve the immune system which will help you fight off many illnesses.

Increased Happiness

As a society, we are turning more and more to chemicals to try and fight off bouts of depression. But a daily meditation practice can help ward off the dark clouds of sadness that can lead to depression.

Meditation also releases the endorphins serotonin and dopamine which bring positive feelings. It’s like a drug-free anti-depressant.

Many people who practice meditation compare their results to “waking up” or “becoming aware”. They begin to enjoy moments they had simply not noticed before.

Of course, all these benefits work together. A person who is sleeping better, stressing less, and feeling healthier is going to be happier.

Reduced Dependency

Meditation helps you become aware of your actions and creates a more mindful approach to everyday living. As a result, you learn to avoid habits that you know damage your body. You’re able to take notice of the thoughts that lead to addictive and dangerous patterns.

Even some people with weight problems find a time of meditation helps them make healthier eating choices throughout the day.

Some addictions are the result of stress. Reducing stress can make you less likely to seek relief in unhealthy ways.

While no one would claim that a meditation practice can completely cure you of a serious addiction, simple mindfulness exercises can certainly help you cope with the demons within.

Slowed Aging

A 2015 study by the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation found that as little as 12 minutes of meditation a day can help improve the memory of those with cognitive decline.

But in the end, the benefits of mindfulness meditation can’t be achieved by reading or studying. The only true test is experience. Take a few minutes of your day and try to find a meditation routine.

Remain consistent but don’t worry if you miss a day or two. Meditation is like exercise for your mind. If you miss your daily walk, don’t give up walking. Try again the next day. As you form the habit and see the benefits, it will be easier to maintain a regular schedule. Most people find that consistent practice is more important than the length of each session.

You might want to keep a journal of how you feel before you start your meditation practice and note the changes you notice on your journey.

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