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Entrepreneurs endlessly seek ways to improve productivity, but sometimes the answer to speeding up is slowing down with meditation.
Meditation often gets a bad rap. It’s often associated with Eastern spiritual practices and New Age traditions that gained momentum during the 1960s and 1970s when hippies rebelled against traditional religion. Although meditation has many different meanings, Merriam-Webster defines it as,
“to engage in mental exercise… for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.”
It isn’t just for free spirits and religious zealots. Research shows that it can make you more productive and creative.
It strengthens your prefrontal cortex
The prefrontal cortex is vital to cognitive functions, such as focus, self-discipline, and judgement. Research shows that the prefrontal cortex of meditators is larger than those who don’t meditate. Meditation helps you stay focused longer, which helps increase productivity.
It reduces stress
The Mayo Clinic suggests that meditation can restore peace and reduce stress. A session itself can help you find inner peace while you’re practicing. The benefits carry on longer than your session. Daily meditation helps throughout the day by helping you stay in the moment and becoming more self-aware. This can also increase your productivity.
It changes age-related brain atrophy
One study suggests that meditation can reduce brain deterioration that occurs as we age. Your brain starts to deteriorate in your 20s, but the real effects of that atrophy may not be fully noticed until you’re much older. Long-term practitioners may experience less brain decay, making you sharper as you age.
Practice it for secular benefits
Meditation is often associated with religion, but it does have benefits outside of the spiritual. If you need help getting started, Headspace and Calm are two of many apps that can help you tap into meditation, no matter how you practice it. It’s time to find your peace and be more aware of yourself.
