Do you ever find yourself mindlessly scrolling through your phone whenever there’s a spare second, instead of just enjoying the moment? This might feel like a small habit, but actually, it can be costly during stressful times. That’s where meditation can help. It helps us stay in the moment and has amazing benefits for our mental and physical health.
Here are just a few ways that meditation can help improve your life:
**1. Tackles Stress**
We often underestimate the effect of stress on our health. But long-term high stress levels take a toll on the body. It messes up our sleep, prompts us to eat too much, and can even cause hair loss. If things don’t change, it could lead to heart problems and other health issues.
Basically, stress is like an invader attacking the harmony in our life. But the good news is that meditation is like a secret weapon against it. Studies indicate mindfulness meditation (which gets us focusing on the here and now) can reduce stress and the inflammation it causes in our body.
So, if stress knocked on your door recently, try meditation.
**2. Aids in Managing Pain**
Did you know that over 50 million Americans live with chronic pain? If you’re one of them, you know the toll it takes.
Because of concerns about addiction, doctors are prescribing opioid painkillers less often. Instead, they’re recommending practices like cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Now, meditation is also gaining popularity as a pain management strategy.
Research shows meditation can help manage short-term, acute pain and may even provide temporary relief for lower back pain.
Do check with your doctor before diving into meditation for pain management, though.
**3. Helps Combat Depression**
Depression can overshadow life’s joys, robbing the affected ones of their purpose.
One of the fantastic aspects of meditation is that it fights anxiety and stress, which are often triggers for depression. If your head is full of negative thoughts, mindfulness meditation can refocus your attention onto the present, breaking the cycle.
**4. Lowers Blood Pressure**
High blood pressure is one major cause of heart health issues. It speeds up our heart rate and narrows our arteries, laying the groundwork for a heart attack or stroke down the line.
Again, practice meditation! When combined with a good diet, it can help bring high blood pressure back under control. Techniques like transcendental and mindfulness meditation help create a peaceful zone in our brain which helps bring down blood pressure levels.
**Give it a Shot!**
The beauty is, starting meditation is easier than you think. There’s no shortage of instructional videos online that can help you get your zen on in no time. Get started and see for yourself how beneficial meditation can be!
**Tags:** Benefits, Meditation, Physical Health, Mental Health
