22 Benefits from Daily Meditation
Okay we all know that meditating is “good for you” but.. what does that mean? Physical? Mental? Emotional? Let’s dig into it!
Physical Benefits:
Pain Management: Daily meditation has been shown to reduce the perception of pain, as demonstrated by studies published in journals like Pain Management Nursing. What?! Incredible.
Improved Sleep: Meditation promotes relaxation, which can lead to better sleep quality and duration, as supported by research in the Journal of Sleep Research. And who couldn’t do with better sleep?
Enhanced Immune Function: This one really blows my mind but, regular meditation practice has been linked to strengthened immune function, as suggested by studies in journals like Psychosomatic Medicine. I have heard of the gut-brain connection, but mostly in terms of how what we eat affects our brains. But also, how we take care of our brains affects our gut health.
Lower Blood Pressure: Meditation has been found to lower blood pressure levels, contributing to cardiovascular health, according to research in the American Journal of Hypertension. This is a great tip when you are getting your blood pressure taken at your next doctors visit! Take deep breaths and calm your mind before and during your blood pressure test.
Faster Healing: Meditation may accelerate the body's natural healing processes, as indicated by research in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Again, mind blowing.
Mental Benefits:
Reduced Stress: Meditation is known for its stress-reducing effects, with studies in journals like Psychoneuroendocrinology demonstrating its ability to lower cortisol levels. Combined with mindful movement, this can be a real life saver! See this blog post where I talk about which yoga postures can help in moments of frustration or overwhelm, specifically for moms!
Improved Focus and Attention: Daily meditation can enhance cognitive function, including focus and attention span, as supported by research in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. This one is so important to me. I feel like modern technology and social media have shortened my attention span, so I love that meditation can help me extend it!
Better Memory Retention: Meditation has been shown to improve memory retention and recall, as indicated by studies in journals like Memory & Cognition. Mom brain? No more!
Enhanced Creativity: Meditation practices can stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, as suggested by research in the Creativity Research Journal. We all have problems and we all need problem solving skills, but especially those corporate boss babes! If you are chronically sitting at a desk, check out my yoga for desk sitters blog post!
Sharper Mental Acuity: Regular meditation may slow age-related cognitive decline and preserve mental acuity, as demonstrated by studies in journals like Frontiers in Psychology. Incredible!
Reduced Rumination: Meditation helps individuals break free from negative thought patterns and rumination, leading to greater mental clarity and peace of mind, as suggested by research in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Sometimes all we need is to let go and do our best to think of nothing for a time.
Reduced Anxiety: Meditation practices can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and promote feelings of calmness and relaxation, according to research in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. If you can breathe through it, you can get through it.
Emotional Benefits:
Increased Emotional Regulation: Meditation promotes emotional resilience and helps individuals manage their emotions more effectively, as indicated by research in the Journal of Affective Disorders. This one clearly relates to the above mentioned “reducing stress” and “reducing anxiety”, but it doesn’t stop there! I especially think of anger and frustration and even numbness. I wrote a blog post on yoga poses that can help us to regulate these feelings. It’s specifically for moms, but it can benefit anyone struggling to contain their big feelings. Check it out here.
Greater Sense of Well-being: Daily meditation is associated with increased feelings of happiness and overall well-being, as supported by studies in the Journal of Happiness Studies. And I think it’s easy to think that of course, if someone has time to meditate then they’re overall happy and “well-better…” But you can still meditate even if you don’t have lots of time! See this blog post about how to stack meditation into another thing you do every day!
Enhanced Self-awareness: Meditation fosters self-awareness and introspection, leading to greater understanding and acceptance of oneself, as suggested by studies in journals like Consciousness and Cognition. Basically, take some time to be still and get to know yourself!
Improved Resilience to Depression: Meditation may reduce the risk of depression and improve resilience to stressors, as indicated by research in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Yoga and meditation are like preventative magic!
Heightened Sense of Connection: Meditation cultivates a deeper connection to oneself, others, and the universe, fostering a sense of interconnectedness, as suggested by research in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. This one sounds a little hokey, but you can replace “universe” with whatever higher being you believe in. Meditation and prayer certainly go hand in hand!
Increased Compassion: Meditation practices promote feelings of compassion and empathy towards oneself and others, as supported by research in the Journal of Positive Psychology. In other words, meditation also counts as self care!
Greater Presence and Mindfulness: Meditation encourages present-moment awareness and mindfulness, allowing individuals to fully engage with each moment of their lives, as indicated by research in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. I personally believe that present moment living creates richer memories. I’m grateful for my own meditation practice that teaches me to live in the moment and no my endless to do list or hectic schedule.
Sense of Purpose: Meditation fosters a clearer sense of purpose and meaning in life, helping individuals align with their values and goals, as suggested by research in the Journal of Happiness Studies. I love that there is evidence to this! It makes sense to me that being still brings clarity into our lives around our decisions. It allows us to be intentional and conscious about the lives we are creating. And now science backs it up!
Improved Relationships: Daily meditation can lead to more harmonious relationships with oneself and others, fostering greater understanding, empathy, and communication, as indicated by studies in journals like Mindfulness. What a priceless outcome from such simple effort.
Sense of Gratitude: Meditation practices promote feelings of gratitude and appreciation for life's blessings, contributing to overall happiness and contentment, as supported by research in the Journal of Positive Psychology. In other words, happy people meditate!
I think we’ve all learned two things from this blog post.
First, there is a “journal” of literally everything and anything.
Second, we should all meditate more!!!
If you’re looking for ways to meditate but you’re really busy, check out this blog post on habit stackable meditations for some ideas! None of the above is medical advice, but if something in particular caught your eye, please consult your doctor about starting a meditation practice.
