Stress… Yuck
If you listened closely conversations taking place around you, one of the words you’d hear the most would probably be “stress.” People express feeling stressed about work deadlines, global politics, the economy, relationships, money, health, and just about everything else. Unsurprisingly, “stress” has become one of the most frequently occurring words in the American vocabulary. It’s also a commonly used term across cultures and languages around the world. Feeling stressed and/or overwhelmed, it seems, is a universal experience.
Chronic, unmanaged stress can make you sick and accelerate aging. As many scientific studies have found, prolonged stress can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, stomach ulcers, autoimmune diseases, anxiety, cancer, insomnia, chronic fatigue, obesity, sadness, and accelerated aging. I bet you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of these symptoms. Reducing stress is crucial for living a happier, healthier life.
5 Benefits of Meditation for Stress Reduction
In meditation, your body releases stress and reverses the effects of the fight-or-flight response. It cultivates a state of restful alertness. Here are the top five benefits of meditation for stress reduction:
Reduces stress and anxiety: Plain and simple. Meditation has been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety by lowering the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. Regular meditation can help you feel more calm and relaxed, even in challenging situations such as driving to & from work, dealing with challenging customers, critical conversations with colleagues or your significant other. Ahhhh, finally a moment of peace.
Improves focus and concentration: Meditation can help improve your focus and concentration by training your mind to stay present in the moment. With regular practice, you’ll find it easier to stay focused on tasks and avoid distractions. Did you know? The average human attention span is 8.25 seconds, which is only 0.75 better than a goldfish. We are constantly being bombarded with notifications, emails, interruptions and marketing. Consciously choosing to eliminate these distractions will reduce your feelings of stress immensely.
Boosts the immune system: Studies have shown that regular meditation can boost the immune system by increasing the number of natural killer cells in the body, which help fight off viruses and cancer cells. And plus, when we feel better – when we have the energy to tackle our days – tasks or challenges don’t seem as daunting.
Promotes better sleep: Short sleep, defined as less than seven hours of sleep a night, affects more than 1/3 of Americans and according to estimates, 50 million to 70 million people in the U.S. have ongoing sleep disorders.Meditation can help you sleep better by reducing the levels of anxiety and stress, which can cause sleep disturbances. By practicing meditation regularly, you’ll be able to fall asleep more easily and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep.
Increases self-awareness: Meditation can help increase self-awareness by allowing you to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This increased awareness can lead to a greater understanding of your motivations, desires, and habits, helping you to make positive changes in your life. This is the real hack. Shifting from unconscious reactivity to conscious awareness was the #1 way I felt a reduction in stress in my life. Imagine, I went from feeling ‘out of control’ or anxiety about unspoken expectations to being able to be present with what is.
How we can help
Meditation is a powerful tool with numerous benefits for both your mental and physical well-being. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve focus, boost your immune system, sleep better, or increase self-awareness, meditation is a practice worth considering for reducing stress in your daily life. beingbetter meditation offers a live, 10-week virtual, mindful awareness course for businesses as well as one-on-one meditation coaching for individuals and executives. Contact us to learn more-
