Meditation: benefits and the personal experience of practitioners

The benefits of meditation can show up as lower stress, better concentration and the ability to put thoughts in order. Some people use this practice to recover after work or prepare for sleep. At the same time, the effect of meditation on health requires separate verification of scientific data.

How meditation affects the brain

There are claims that occasional meditation can increase the brain’s neuroplasticity, and regular practice can increase the concentration of gray matter.

There is also a claim that with constant meditation practice by the age of 50 the brain may “look” seven years younger.

Meditation is seen as one way of coping with the consequences of everyday stress and paying more attention to your well-being.

But besides the general claims about the benefits of meditation, the personal experience of people who practice it regularly is interesting.

Personal experience: what meditation gives

Below are three opinions on the place meditation takes in everyday life.

Person X: structuring thoughts

“Meditation helps structure the thoughts in your head, you see what is going on around you more clearly and objectively.

Meditation is a real must-have these days. It helps clear the brain of information junk. It is almost like working out muscles in the gym, only you work out your brain.”

Person Z: restoring energy

“Meditation plays a significant role in my life. For me the main purpose of meditation is replenishing energy.

Because of a lack of sleep I have to recover the strength lost during the day in a short period of time.

I usually meditate after work, at 7–8 in the evening, for 15–20 minutes. After that, full of strength and energy, with high concentration I sit down to study or work for the rest of the day.”

Person Y: meditation before sleep

“Most often I practice meditation before sleep. More precisely, special meditations from the Meditopia app.

I am already used to sleeping in wireless earphones, but you can simply play the recording through your phone speaker.

I have problems with sleep. Because of an abundant flow of thoughts, ideas and replaying various situations, I can take an hour or two to fall asleep. That is very long.

And it is exactly these special meditations that help me quiet the brain noise and fall asleep in 15 minutes. For me that is a victory.”

Why people practice meditation

These three stories show different reasons for turning to meditation.

For one person it is a way to put thoughts in order and look at what is happening more calmly. For another — a chance to rest after the working day. For a third — a habitual evening ritual that helps prepare for sleep.

Personal experience does not prove that meditation works for everyone. However, it shows what role the practice can play in the everyday life of different people.