Why You Should Meditate
Summer of 2020, my doctor told me that I should start meditating to bring down the cortisol in my blood. Cortisol is the “stress hormone” and having high levels was not a surprise for me since I am such an anxious person.
Since then, I have meditated for 20-60 minutes every day and it has made so many positive changes in my life. Meditation is so good for your physical and mental wellbeing and especially during this busy school year, it’s important to take care of yourself. Meditation is a great way to do this.
Meditation is great for people with anxiety. You can find cognitive behavioural therapy meditations online which help you to focus on the present and ignore anxious thoughts. These are great to do before a big test or assignment to get yourself into a calm mental space.
I like to do my meditation at night because it helps me fall asleep. Nowadays, I usually end up falling asleep while meditating because I’m so relaxed. Usually, during the night my mind gets really busy and I have a hard time falling asleep. This practice has remedied this.
Meditation is not only great for a clear mind, it’s also great for self-discovery and introspection. During the day most people focus on other people or tasks, but during meditation time, you can focus on yourself and your needs. Who knows, you might even learn something about yourself just from paying attention.
It’s also a great way to set intentions for the day. You can be gracious for the last day and set goals that you want to achieve for the next. It gives some structure to focus on self-improvement and goal-setting.
What makes meditation so accessible is that it can be done anywhere: in the comfort of your home, on the bus, a quick break at your desk during work, etc. You can use a meditation online or just do it on your own. It’s versatile.
My favourite part of meditation is the community it can create. I meditate on my own but also in groups. Meditation with others is a great way to build community and get to know people who also put self-care as a part of their weekly routine.
If you’re interested in meditating with a group, check out the meditation groups at UVic’s Multifaith Centre. They have a “learn to meditate” group on Mondays and Thursdays and a morning meditation on Tuesdays and Fridays.
