A practice once thought to be only a part of Eastern religions and yoga, meditation has hit the mainstream USA and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. So what exactly is meditation? Wikipedia says, “Meditation is a practice where an individual operates or trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or for the mind to simply acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content, or as an end in itself.” It can be practiced in many different ways, but essentially, it is a state of mindfulness, being aware of the senses of the body and mind.

Still need convincing? Keep reading.

Why Meditation is Important

1. It can decrease depression, improve anxiety, and pain.

2. It can help with learning and memory by increasing the gray matter in your brain.

3. It helps you focus and improves productivity.

4. It promotes creativity.

5. It decreases inflammation.

Obviously, meditation has some really great benefits, but starting a new habit or practice can be difficult. I completely recommend the app, Headspace. It guides you through a series of meditations. You can gradually increase the time you spend to get all of these great benefits!