Learning how to quiet a busy brain brings many major health and happiness benefits, according to mounting research
A recent study review of 18,000 people published in JAMA: Internal Medicine revealed that meditation helps alleviate anxiety, depression, and pain. Mindfulness techniques have also been shown to lower blood-sugar levels and reduce insomnia.
It's no wonder that we're turning to yoga and meditation like never before. A 2017 study found that the percentage of American workers doing yoga doubled from 2002 to 2012; the practice of meditation also increased during that time. Forward-thinking companies like Google, Apple, and Nike are so sold on the power of mindfulness that they teach it to employees. And thanks to apps like Headspace and Apple Breath, we can get centered whenever, wherever, maybe even right at the kitchen sink.
Researchers at Florida State University found that doing ordinary chores like washing dishes mindfully (noticing the soap bubbles, the sound of the water, etc.) made people feel more inspired and less stressed than just zipping through them.
Not a fan of slow housework? No worries; speed-load the dishwasher and move on. The goal is to carve out mindful moments that feel natural to you. It's your mental breakdown, after all.
-Real Simple Magazine
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