10 reasons to take the time to meditate
Our current lifestyles cause us to experience a lot of stress and anxiety, which has a considerable impact on our health. It is important to take the time to find, from time to time, calm and serenity for our physical and mental well-being.
Research over the past 40 years has shown that meditation has measurable psychological and physiological benefits.
Here are 10 reasons to take the time to meditate:
1. To avoid depression
According to a study published in 2015 in the medical journal The Lancet (1), mindfulness meditation would be an alternative as effective as antidepressants against relapses of depression.
In addition, a study conducted on 91 women with fibromyalgia published in 2007 (2) reports a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in patients who participated in 8 sessions of 2.5 hours of meditation.
2. To learn to stop
Nowadays, we don’t really take the time to stop, we always do something during the breaks we take, like using our smartphone, watching a series or smoking a cigarette.
Meditation allows you to be more present to yourself and to the world around you by becoming aware of the simple fact of being there. To practice mindful meditation is to stop for a short time and come back to the present moment.
3. To be happy
A study published in the journal Scientific Reports (3) shows that meditation increases the volume of gray matter in the precuneus, a region of the brain that is larger in people who tend to feel positive emotions intensely and perceive real meaning. to their life.
4. To reduce stress
The effect that meditation has on stress is one of the best known benefits.
In 2008, a study showed that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction was effective in reducing stress and anxiety (4) in both healthy people and those with chronic conditions.
5. To sleep better
Some people show a reduction in insomnia through mindfulness meditation techniques. Thanks to its relaxing effect, meditation can be an effective solution against insomnia when it is caused by stress and anxiety.
6. To avoid migraines
According to research published in the medical journal Headache (5), meditation may provide migraine relief. This research submitted a panel of 19 chronic migraine sufferers to the MSBR (Mindfulness-based stress reduction) method for 8 weeks. The result: a reduction in the frequency of migraines for patients who have followed the mindfulness relaxation method.
