The Benefits of Meditating Every Day

Even though most people are familiar with meditation, not many decide to give it a go due to hectic lifestyles and busy schedules. Others believe that meditation is a waste of time and don’t understand its benefits. But meditation is more than just sitting still and clearing your mind and can help you transform your life.

How Does Meditation Work?

There are a few different types of meditation but the most popular is mindfulness meditation. To be mindful, you have to learn to observe whatever thought passes through your mind without judging it or engaging in it. This can help you become more aware of your emotions and discover some thinking patterns that might affect how you feel. Over time, you should be able to achieve inner peace and recognise when you’re dealing with unhelpful thoughts.

What are the Benefits of Daily Meditation?

Your brain is like a muscle. The more you practise, the easier it will get to master certain skills and that includes meditation. Here are a few benefits you can expect if you do it every day:

1. It can help you make better choices

When we are overwhelmed by emotions, we’re more likely to act impulsive and make unhealthy decisions. For example, you might try to make yourself feel better by engaging in binge eating or drinking alcohol. Being mindful can help you relax which makes it less likely you’ll want to rely on negative solutions and give you the mental space to recognise that they aren’t doing you any favours.

2. It allows you to slow down

Staying in the present isn’t as easy as it sounds; we tend to jump from one task to another and often do many things at the same time. Luckily, practising mindfulness meditation allows you to feel more grounded and appreciate the present moment.

3. It can improve your relationship

Meditation can help you gain a healthier perspective on how things are in your relationship. When you worry, it’s easy to let negative thoughts take over and emotions build up instead of deciding to talk things through. Being mindful allows you to step away and look at the problem from a more realistic point of view. It also gives you a chance to appreciate being in the present and connecting with your partner on a deeper level as a result.

4. It lowers stress

Meditation is a type of healthy distraction that can lower your stress levels. While it won’t take your mind off worrying thoughts, it can make you less emotionally involved in them and help you focus only on things you can control.

5. It improves your self-esteem

By becoming more aware of your thoughts and emotions, you’re able to better connect with yourself and realise that all thoughts are passing thoughts that don’t always reflect reality. For example, if you think that ‘you’re a failure’, you can simply acknowledge the thought and move on instead of dwelling on it and believing it to be true.

If you’re struggling to cope, consider seeking professional help. My Family Psychologist can offer you a confidential chat to explore your options