When was the last time you spent a few minutes thinking about nothing? Not mindlessly scrolling through your social media feeds, or daydreaming when you should be working, but actually clearing your mind of every single thought. Truly clearing your mind of all distracting and wayward thoughts isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth working on. Making time every day to relax and focus on our wellbeing should be a priority, but somehow it usually ends up last on our sprawling to-do lists. If you can make time to watch Netflix and go for a run, you can make time to meditate— even if it’s just for 10 minutes every night. You’ll be surprised how much thinking about nothing can change your life.
There are plenty of Youtube channels that offer meditations whether you’re looking for something general or interested in targeting a specific issue. Check out channels like The Honest Guys and OnlineMeditation for a variety of videos to get you started. Apps like Headspace, Omvana, and The Mindfulness App also help make learning how to meditate easy. All you need are a few minutes a day, and you’ll start feeling the many benefits of meditation in no time.
Manage anxiety and stress
Even if you feel like you handle stress relatively well, there will always be times when things seem to be piling up faster than you’re used to. Everyone feels some level of anxiety at times, but being able to take a step back from everything, even for a short time, can make a big difference. Anxiety, chronic or not, often stems from feeling like you aren’t in control of something. Meditation can help you slow down and get a handle on your racing thoughts, making you feel like you’re in control again. Having the ability to quiet your mind is also helpful if you’re prone to panic attacks or get easily overwhelmed.
Increase energy and fight disease
Many mindfulness experts believe that meditation has the power to heal not only the mind, but also the body. Many chronic illnesses stem from unconscious emotions you aren’t even actively aware of on a daily basis. By making the choice to meditate and clear your mind of negativity, you’re believing in the power of mind over matter. Meditation also has the ability to energize you and boost your immune system because it helps you banish any negative energy that would have had the power to make you sick.
Improve focus and mental strength
The ability to focus and deal with distractions effectively is essential for success at work and in your personal life. We’re so used to constant stimulation that actually clearing your mind and thinking about nothing, or focusing on one thing, is a skill that doesn’t come naturally to most people. That’s why meditation is the perfect way to practice blocking out all distractions— especially the ones that come from inside your own brain. There is also research that suggests meditation can help improve concentration, memory and verbal reasoning.
Help with addiction
Studies have shown that meditation has a positive effect on the self-control regions of the brain. Whether it’s smoking, alcohol, sex, food or anything else you might be addicted to, practicing mindfulness helps you identify and acknowledge your addictions which makes it a lot easier to break them. That doesn’t mean cravings won’t still strike, but it does mean you’ll be a lot better equipped to deal with them when they do.
