In today’s fast-paced, changing world, the slowing down is more challenging than ever. Modern-day technology and information has distracted and overwhelm are ability to focus. It is possible that we are facing an unhealthy stress on the mind, but people are founding various ways like mindfulness meditation to tackle this rapidly growing stress and anxiety.
Meditation helps you relax your mind and allows the slowing down your brain. Studies that have going on for years have proven mindfulness meditation beneficial for the brain as it helps calm the brain by relaxing it. Mindfulness meditation is a simple technique that has enormous benefits for our day-to-day happiness.
What Is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is a personal practice that people carry out to comfort themselves. It is more like a personal practice that everybody carries out in their own way. A mindful or focused meditation involves focusing on one thing, whether it’s a sensation in your body, breathing, or anything outside you. The purpose of this focused meditation is to help you concentrate intensely on a single point, and when your attention wanders off, you bring it back to the focal point.
What Happens To The Different Parts Of Your Brain During You Meditation?
Using modern technologies like FMRI scans has shown the changes that occur when we meditate. When a person contemplates, their brain stops processing information as actively as usual. There is a decrease in beta waves, which slows down the processing of information by the brain. Even a meditation of 20 minutes can generate this slowing activity.
- Frontal lobe: The most highly developed part of the brain, responsible for planning, reasoning, self-consciousness, and emotions, goes offline during meditation.
- Parietal lobe: The activity in this part of the brain slows down during meditation. This region processes information about the surrounding world.
- Thalamus: Meditation helps stop the flow of information through the thalamus, the gatekeeper of the senses.
- Reticular formation: This part receives arousal signals and alerts the brain to respond quickly. Meditation helps in reducing this arousing signal.
How Mindfulness Meditation Affect Your Brain?
The primary way to learn mindfulness meditation is by taking meditation classes, especially for beginners. If you can’t join a class, you can download various apps available for guided meditation. Other steps that you need to follow to meditate your brain include:
- Find a place that is quiet and convenient.
- Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable—there is no need for proper workout clothes.
- Try maintaining a more relaxed posture by sitting on the edge of a chair and straightening your back while placing your feet on the ground.
- You can sit silently or play soft, calming background music to avoid noise.
- Focus on your breathing.
Stay in this comfortable position as long as you can, and don’t judge yourself! You can follow these steps to meditate correctly, and there’s no need to overwhelm yourself with the idea of too much meditation. Even 20 minutes is more than enough.
How To Make Mindfulness A Habit
The word “habit” gets thrown around a lot when it comes to mindfulness meditation, but forming a habit out of something intangible can be tricky. After all, how do you make something a routine when it’s all about being in the moment? Here are a few tips:
- Start small: Don’t try to meditate for an hour every day. Start with a few minutes and work your way up.
- Find a time that works for you: If you’re a morning person, try meditating first thing in the morning. If you’re a night person, try it right before bed.
- Set a reminder: Put a note on your bathroom mirror or set a daily alarm on your phone.
- Start with a guided meditation: Starting with a guided meditation can be great for beginners. Plenty of free ones are available online, or you can buy a meditation app.
- Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down: You don’t need to sit in the lotus position. Just find a comfortable position.
- Focus on your breath: Once you’re comfortable, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Don’t try to control your breath; let it flow naturally. Let your thoughts come and go like clouds in the sky.
Be patient. Don’t expect to be a master meditator overnight. Mindfulness is a skill that improves with practice. Like anything else, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.
Conclusion
A brain break is essential for our well-being, and mindfulness meditation is a practice that anyone can start. There are many different types of meditation, each with its benefits and techniques. If you’re new to meditation, it’s best to start with a simple practice and gradually work on more advanced techniques. With regular practice, you’ll soon see the benefits of mindfulness meditation in your life.