Meditation: the ancient art solving our modern-day problems
Meditation is a great way to look after yourself and your mind. It is commonly known to decrease levels of stress, improve sleep, and be successful as a means of managing - and reducing the effects of - mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. It can even result in a higher pain tolerance.
Meditation has been popularised recently by the rise of ‘mindfulness’, which is a form of meditation. However, the practice goes back thousands of years: the earliest records of it date back to 1500 BCE, and Hinduism. The word ‘meditation’ comes from the Latin verb ‘mediari’, meaning to think, ponder or contemplate.
The practice is a brilliant self-care technique, especially for those with highly stressful day-to-day lives. Some students say they can revise and learn better after meditating. It has also been shown to help those with insomnia: a recent study on those suffering with the condition found that 75% of people who mediated daily saw a positive effect on their sleeping pattern and found it helped them to sleep.
Meditating can seem like a difficult thing to start doing. However, in reality it is very simple: only ten minutes a day is needed to make a difference. Just sitting quietly and focusing on something small, like your breathing, is a great a place to start. There are also many apps that can help.
Here are the five top tips for meditating:
Aoife Godsave, Year 10
Meditation has been popularised recently by the rise of ‘mindfulness’, which is a form of meditation. However, the practice goes back thousands of years: the earliest records of it date back to 1500 BCE, and Hinduism. The word ‘meditation’ comes from the Latin verb ‘mediari’, meaning to think, ponder or contemplate.
The practice is a brilliant self-care technique, especially for those with highly stressful day-to-day lives. Some students say they can revise and learn better after meditating. It has also been shown to help those with insomnia: a recent study on those suffering with the condition found that 75% of people who mediated daily saw a positive effect on their sleeping pattern and found it helped them to sleep.
Meditating can seem like a difficult thing to start doing. However, in reality it is very simple: only ten minutes a day is needed to make a difference. Just sitting quietly and focusing on something small, like your breathing, is a great a place to start. There are also many apps that can help.
Here are the five top tips for meditating:
- Find a space in your day every day even if it’s just for ten minutes. This helps you to build a habit and you are far more likely to do it if you can get into a routine.
- For someone who is just starting meditation, the best thing to do may be shorter, more frequent sessions; it’s easier to concentrate and you’re more likely to stick to it.
- Don’t be too disheartened if you find it hard at first! It will get easier over time you just need to practice.
- The morning is a great time to meditate because it will help you feel active for the day ahead.
- Remember to have fun! This is time you have out aside for yourself and you should enjoy it. Don’t spend too much time stressing over whether you are doing it right all that matters is if it feels right for you.
Aoife Godsave, Year 10