What could happen when you start meditating every day
Thought about adding meditation to your daily routine? Wellness counsellor Deepak Kashyap reveals four more health benefits you might experience from practising mindfulness meditation on a regular basis.
1. It can complement the treatment of substance abuse
If you’re struggling with substance abuse – whether it’s drinking or drugs – there’s no substitute for medical care, and that starts with a discussion with your family doctor. That said, meditation has been shown to be an effective complement to medical treatments for substance abuse, particularly in terms of managing cravings and addictive impulses. In fact, mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly incorporated into medically-supervised programs for substance abuse.
2. You might build a healthier relationship with food
You don’t need to be diagnosed with a full-blown eating disorder to have a disordered relationship with food. With 67% of Australians over 18 now considered overweight or obese, it’s quite clear that our patterns of eating (not to mention what we’re eating) are putting our health at risk. A number of studies have shown that mindfulness-based interventions – think mindful eating techniques – can be helpful in addressing disordered eating habits.
3. You might sleep better
As a mindfulness coach, I’m very aware of the day-to-day anxieties and worries that can interfere with a good night’s sleep. One of the most effective ways of easing ourselves out of those stresses is through daily meditation. Meditation apps such as Insight Timer offer guided meditations such as Yoga Nidra specifically aimed at relaxing your muscles to help you drift off to sleep. If this is indeed your first attempt at meditation, you’ll likely find the meditation interrupted by thoughts flashing through your mind. It’s important for you to know that this isn’t a failure on your part, and that you aren’t doing anything wrong. Thinking is just what the brain does, as naturally as lungs take in air. The point is to be non-judgmental yet aware of your thoughts, bodily experiences and breath, moment by moment.
4. You might become more compassionate
Thanks to the frantic pace of our lives, there seems to be precious little time for compassion. Sadly, that means that we’re often easily frustrated and annoyed not only by others, but by ourselves. By practising mindful meditation on a regular basis, you may find your potential for compassion slowly building. Over time, compassion may become a habitual attitude – and a powerful motivational force.
Written by Deepak Kashyap. This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer.