Sleep

Will meditating help me sleep better?

Sleeplessness comes in many forms: runaway thoughts as you’re drifting off, waking up in the middle of the night agitated or never getting into a deep rest. Stress is the ultimate enemy of sleep. The problem with stress is that it’s generally rooted in the future, and we worry about issues even though there’s nothing we can truly do about most of them. Meditation at its core is about rooting us in the present. It teaches us the skills necessary to control racing thoughts and repetitive worries by illuminating their temporary nature and showing us how to acknowledge them and let them move on without disrupting our peace of mind.

Can meditation control our sense of calm?

One of the main benefits of meditation is that when we practice it regularly our brain begins to associate the feelings of calm brought about by slower breathing and a calm mind with the physical act itself. This enables us to deploy calm and peace of mind on ourselves almost at will – which for those who struggle with anxiety or depression is practically a superpower!

Putting Insomnia to sleep

Alongside worries keeping us awake, unfortunately almost half of us will experience some form of insomnia. As there are limited treatments to combat the condition, a study in 2015 gathered a lot of attention when it illuminated how effective meditation and mindfulness is at treating the pervasive illness. Whilst it doesn’t claim to be the cure, we’re beginning to see how useful our minds can be at alleviating and also preventing the condition!

"Practising meditation every morning has given my life structure. The discipline that I cultivate with just 10 minutes every morning spills into every other aspect of my life. I undertake tasks and challenges with a new sense of focus and confidence."

"10 years ago, I was suffering from extreme anxiety. I was recommended mindfulness from a friend. At first, I was unsure, but being at breaking point, I thought I'd give it a try. With a few weeks of practice, I was sleeping again and had a skip in my step. For me, it was a game-changer."

"After two decades of dealing with insomnia, never being able to achieve a restful nights sleep, I knew there had to be a better way. Meditation allowed me to feel like someone who can sleep through the night and approach the new day feeling restored and full of energy."

Meditation helps to organise the mind and put the mental stresses and strains to bed

And here’s for the science, take a look in full:

[1]www.health.harvard.edu/

[2]www.researchgate.net/