Dear Lifehacker, I’ve seen you guys post a few things about the benefits of meditation, and I only have one question: really? I’m pretty sceptical. Is there some actual science behind meditation benefits, or is this just one of those trends? Sincerely, Meditation Myths
Picture: Diego Cervo/Shutterstock, dedMazay/Shutterstock
Dear MM,
The meditation you’ve been hearing about isn’t quite as stereotypical as you’re probably thinking. And there is indeed science behind it: meditation has been a hot topic for all sorts of studies recently, and the supposed benefits range from jump-starting your productivity to improving your memory. Let’s define what meditation actually is, what the benefits are, and how you can implement it into your daily schedule.
What Meditation Really Is
If you see the word meditation and immediately conjure up religious images or deadbeats wasting time at work, you’re not alone. However, that’s not exactly what we’re talking about here. Mindful meditation, despite it’s awkward name, is really just about training your brain to concentrate and focus better. As professor David Levy describes it over at USA Today, meditation is just another exercise:
Meditation is a lot like doing reps at a gym. It strengthens your attention muscle.
That’s it. You don’t need to buy yoga pants, burn incense, or even sit a particular way. The purpose of meditation is to train your brain just like you do the rest of your muscles. In this case, that means concentrating and focusing on one thing in your brain for a little while. As the New York Times points out in this article, it’s about being mindful of what you’re doing:
Though the concept originates in ancient Buddhist, Hindu and Chinese traditions, when it comes to experimental psychology, mindfulness is less about spirituality and more about concentration: the ability to quiet your mind, focus your attention on the present, and dismiss any distractions that come your way.
So if you’re struggling with concentration and focus, it’s thought that meditation is one simple way to train yourself to get better at it. All it really takes is the ability to intentionally not think about anything for a little while. Picture: Chris Tweddle
The Benefits of Meditation
It’s long been thought that meditation plays some role in concentration and focus, but only recently have we started to see studies that actually reflect the common wisdom.
For example, one study from the University of Washington showed that meditation can increase productivity and help you focus. Another study published in Brain Research Bulletin suggests meditation can decrease stress. Yet another study by the University of Massachussetts Medical School has shown meditation can boost your overall brain power in a number of ways. Simply put, while researchers are still gathering evidence about the effects of meditation, it looks like even short stints of meditation have a positive effect on the brain’s ability to concentrate. That in turn makes it easier to focus, retain memories and be more productive.
On a more circumstantial level, meditation can also help you avoid information overload. Meditation is also helpful when you want to improve your powers of observation, or change habits and cravings. Picture: Big Mind Zen Center/Flickr
How to Meditate
We’ve put together a guide to meditation before, and it’s just as simple as it sounds. There really aren’t any special tricks, magic incantations or weird brain hacks. It’s just about sitting quietly and concentrating for a while. The The Harvard Business Review wrote about a meditation system we can all use:
Sit with your back straight enough that your breathing is comfortable — on a chair or a cushion on the floor — and set a timer for however many minutes you want to meditate. Once you start the timer, close your eyes, relax, and don’t move except to breathe, until the timer goes off. Focus on your breath going in and out. Every time you have a thought or an urge, notice it and bring yourself back to your breath.
While a lot of the studies above dig into longer meditation periods, you don’t need to dedicate that large of a chunk of time. two minutes a day is beneficial, and you can even use apps to help you calm down for those short periods of time no matter where you are.
So while it might seem strange to you, take a few minutes everyday to just relax, clear your mind and concentrate on your breathing. It’s simple, doesn’t take up that much of your day, and has been shown to have substantial benefits in all kinds of ways. If nothing else, it at least gets you away from your desk (and work) for a couple minutes. Picture: Richard Masoner/Cyclelicious/Flickr
Cheers
Lifehacker
Got your own question you want to put to Lifehacker? Send it using our contact tab on the right.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.