Should You Meditate? The Health Benefits Say You Should

What do you know about meditation? Turns out, it's really good for you. Meditation isn't some hippie fad that will pass by in a few years, and in fact, is only going to become more popular.

When things in your life feel like turmoil, it's a good time to really slow it all down, and that's what meditation can do for you.

Meditation is a great way to step away from the hustle of modern life for just a few moments each day. And in the long run, the benefits are additive.

So what are some of these benefits? We're glad you asked. This blog post will enlighten you about what you've been missing out on when it comes to the health benefits of meditation.

Meditation Can Help Lower Blood Pressure

There is a growing body of research that suggests that meditation can be an effective tool to lower blood pressure. People who meditate display much lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings compared to people who don't.

There are many different types of meditation, so it is important to find one that works best for you. Some people find that mindfulness meditation is helpful in lowering blood pressure, while others prefer transcendental meditation or even yoga. It is important to find a type of meditation that you can stick with so that you will continue to see it and experience benefits over time.

The barrier to entry for meditation is almost non-existent, so feel free to start with some simple deep breathing exercises or even guided meditation apps.

Meditation Can Help You Focus and Concentrate Better

If you feel like your focus is all over the place, and you need that to change, meditation could be the answer. This is likely because when we meditate, we are training our minds to quiet down and focus on a specific object or thought. Over time, this can help us to become better at focusing and concentrating on other areas of our lives as well.

man concentrating and studying

In as little as eight weeks you can experience significant improvements in your ability to focus and concentrate. And the best part is that these improvements persist for many months even if you discontinue meditation (but why would you?). People who regularly meditate also have better attention spans and are generally more productive at work.

There are also benefits on your memory and retention skills, so if you're in school or college, there are positive benefits to be obtained too.

So if you are looking for a way to improve your focus and concentration, consider starting a meditation practice. It may take some time before you see significant improvements, but with practice, you will likely notice a difference. And who knows, maybe eventually you will be able to achieve the level of focus and concentration that is necessary for deep meditation!

Meditation Can Help Boost Your Energy Levels

A lot of people think that meditation is a really boring and pointless activity, but that's not always the case. In fact, meditation can actually be a great way to boost your energy levels and get yourself feeling more awake and alert.

This is because when you meditate, you are essentially taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life, allowing yourself to just relax and take some time out for yourself. And when you do this, your body is able to reset itself and recharge its mental and physical batteries.

So if you're feeling a little run down or tired, give meditation a try and see how it makes you feel. It may take a little bit of practice to get used to it, but once you do, you may find that it's one of the best things you've ever done for your energy levels.

In the meanwhile, for a quick acting and long lasting no-crash energy booster, you can take advantage of Dawn To Dusk. Don't ever lose precious time because of "feeling tired" again.

Meditation Can Improve Sleep

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that supports the idea that meditation can improve sleep. However, a growing body of evidence points to the fact that mindfulness meditation improves sleep quality and helps people to fall asleep faster.

People who practiced mindfulness meditation reported less stress and anxiety, and they also slept better and fell asleep faster. Mindfulness meditation seems to help people learn how to let go of negative thoughts and worries that can keep them awake at night.

A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that mindfulness meditation helped people to reduce the amount of time it took them to fall asleep, as well as improving their sleep quality. The study participants were asked to practice mindfulness meditation for 20 minutes per day, and they reported less fatigue and better sleep quality after 8 weeks.

So, why does meditation seem to help improve sleep? There are a few possible explanations. First, when we are stressed or anxious, our minds tend to race and we have a hard time falling asleep. Mindfulness meditation can help us to calm down and focus on the present moment, which can help us to relax and fall asleep more easily.

Second, when we are constantly multitasking or focusing on our phones or laptops before bed, it can be difficult to wind down and fall asleep because of the distractions. Mindfulness meditation can help us to disconnect from our electronics and focus on ourselves instead, which can lead to a more restful night's sleep.

Overall, there is a lot of evidence that suggests that mindfulness meditation can improve sleep quality. If you are struggling with insomnia or poor sleep quality, consider trying out a mindfulness meditation practice for yourself.

Add in a safe and natural sleep aide like DREAMZZZ to help you stay asleep, and you have a powerful combo for feeling your best when you wake up.

Your Heart Will Thank You

There are countless benefits to meditation, and one of those is that it can boost the health of your heart. When you meditate, you're actually doing quite a bit for your cardiovascular system. For starters, meditation helps to lower blood pressure as we mentioned, which is great for overall heart health. Additionally, meditation has been shown to improve cholesterol levels and help to prevent arterial plaque buildup via inhibition of excessive inflammation. All of these factors work together to keep your heart functioning optimally.

But that's not all - meditation also offers other benefits that can contribute to a healthy heart. For example, regular meditation can help to reduce stress levels, which is known to be a major contributor to heart disease. Additionally, mindfulness meditation can help you become more aware of your body and the signals it sends you, which can help you catch any potential problems early on.

One thing is clear- the hectic life we live is not conducive to our overall health, and it is particularly telling when it comes to the heart.

Meditation Can Boost Immune System Health

If you're wondering if meditation has any benefits to offer your body's defense system, then you'll be happy to know that it does.

Under states of excessive stress, inflammation can become chronic and can even lead to a weakened immune system. Mindfulness meditation helps to reduce inflammation, allowing your body's natural immune response mechanisms to work more effectively.

Meditation has also been found to increase the number of certain types of lymphocytes (cells that fight off infection) in the body, which is an important component of a healthy immune system.

In particular, cell types such as Natural Killer Cells, Cytotoxic T-Cells, and B-Cells have all been found to increase after regular meditation practice.

In these times, it is definitely worth it to learn meditation if it means that you can reduce the risk of picking up a serious infection, even if just by a little bit.

Meditation Can Act as A Natural Painkiller

People have been using meditation as a form of pain relief for centuries. Compared to people who don't meditate, people who practice mindfulness meditation report lower levels of chronic pain and better management of acute pain.

There are several reasons why meditation may be effective for relieving pain. One reason is that meditation can help you to focus on the present moment, instead of focusing on your pain. This can help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels, which can in turn reduce your perception of pain. Additionally, meditation may help to improve your mood, which can also reduce your perception of pain.

pain relief

Then there's the fact that endorphins (a natural painkiller) are released during meditation, which can help to reduce the intensity of physical pain (commonly associated with the runner's high).

Using it as a tool might be particularly beneficial for people dealing with chronic pain who are trying to reduce dependency on prescription pain meds, or attempting to minimize the amount needed.

Meditation Can Improve Your Mental Health

There is a lot of research that supports the idea that meditation can improve mental health. Meditation has proved itself to have great promise in managing symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders.

Mindfulness meditation is a type of meditation that focuses on being present in the moment. It teaches you to focus on your breath and to pay attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This type of meditation can help you learn to cope with stress and anxiety.

Studies have found that mindfulness meditation can reduce the intensity of negative thoughts and feelings associated with depression.

It is also believed to increase your self-compassion and awareness, which can help you better manage unpleasant emotions when they arise. And because it helps relieve stress, it can help to improve sleep quality, which is essential for overall mental health.

Meditation Can Help Improve Athletic Performance

Some athletes swear that meditation is a contributor to improved exercise performance or workout capacity. Yet some others are not convinced. So what gives? It can indeed give you an athletic edge as it turns out.

Any competitive sport requires tip-top performance. Sometimes, minuscule differences mean the difference between a top finish or coming in last place. Meditation, while not claiming to increase your performance by leaps and bounds, does enough to improve it bit by bit.

This results in better reaction time, improved accuracy, and greater endurance during your game.

So how does meditation improve athletic performance? There are likely several mechanisms at work. One possibility is that meditation helps to increase focus and concentration. This could lead to better execution of motor skills and less distraction during competition. Meditation may also help to improve body awareness, which could lead to improved balance and coordination. And finally, meditation may help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can interfere with athletic performance.

Final Words

Meditation doesn't have to take a lot of daily time out of your already busy schedule. As little as 10 minutes spent meditating can have profound benefits on so many aspects of your life, so why wouldn't you want to do it?

Make it a goal to meditate 10 minutes daily, early in the morning, for 3 months, and determine if you think it has impacted your day for the better.

Spoiler: we know it will become a permanent part of your life!