7 incredible benefits of mindfulness backed by science
The idea of mindfulness, where you are focused and accepting of yourself in the present moment might sound like something that’s only for yoga-types to enjoy.
But in fact there is new research showing that mindfulness is something that can benefit us in ways we hadn’t realised.
Reduce aches and pains
The body often manifests stress or anxiety as physical pain such as back or neck aches. Regular meditation can reduce your perception of pain in the body significantly.
Improve your sex life
By being “in the moment” you can enjoy a richer, more fulfilling sex life. Keeping your focus on the here and now (rather than making a mental shopping list or thinking of all the things you should be doing) can no doubt benefit you and your partner.
Sharpen decision-making skills
Those that meditate regularly have a different type of folding in their brain’s cortex, which allows them to process information faster than those who don’t meditate.
Lift your mood
Meditating can improve your working memory, making short-term retrieval and storage of information easier. This gives you an edge in a stressful situation, as you will be more alert without allowing emotion to cloud your judgement.
Feel more empathetic
Studies have shown that practicing compassion meditation leads to more activity in regions of the brain aligned with empathy.
Get focused
By meditating you can teach yourself to improve your attention span by ignoring everyday distractions. You can also get back to the focused mood faster even after a considerable amount of time being distracted.
Slow down symptoms of illness
Preliminary research data shows that meditation may even be the answer for slowing down the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.