Are we done with the pandemic or are we just in a lull? Are there more harmful variants to come or is the worst behind us? Will we erupt into a new domestic civil war? Will Russia invade Ukraine? The list of dilemmas and “what ifs” are endless these days. So much so that for many, it’s hard to concentrate and turn off your “fight or flight” response to each new headline. The world feels like it’s on hyperspeed and much is beyond our control. But what’s within our control and worth paying attention to is what we can do to feel calm, promote physical and mental health and be present in the moment to address and be aware of whatever is happening. For that, it’s helpful to once again review the value of mindfulness and meditation. For past agebuzz posts on these topics, click here.

As a quick reminder: Meditation is a practice or technique to train and focus your mind in order to achieve heightened attention and awareness along with mental clarity and calmness. Mindfulness (which can be achieved through meditation) is a state of being where your mind is in the present, aware and attentive to what’s happening inside of and around you, with a curious and non-judgmental attitude. Meditation is often practiced to achieve mindfulness (mindfulness meditation) and they are often pursued side-by-side. While meditation requires a specific, focused initiative to set aside time with intent, mindfulness can be an awareness that you carry with you throughout the day to help you respond to whatever comes your way. For example, you can mindfully exercise or use walking as a meditative practice, and thereby enrich those activities and feel calm and clear-headed. Yoga can also be a meditative endeavor using deliberative poses and breathing techniques to help place you in a mindful state.

Beyond the value in addressing the chaos and stress that many perceive at this point, why else consider these practices? Evidence continues to mount that both mindfulness and meditation can help sustain your physical and emotional health as you age. For example, a recent study published in Neuropsychology Review found that 15 minutes of meditation per day can slow down the memory decline that may surface as you age. The researchers concluded that the mindfulness that arose through daily meditation may help support cognitive function as people get older. For more on this study, read here. Regarding physical health, a new study out of Florida published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences determined that meditation, yoga, and other “inner engineering” practices can dramatically boost the body’s immune system and potentially improve multiple health conditions, including the immune boost needed to fight off cancer and other viruses. While we’re a long way from prescribing meditation in response to a cancer diagnosis, there is much to consider when it comes to reducing stress levels, thereby reducing inflammation and improving the immune system. For more on this avenue of research, breathe deeply and click here. There are also reports that meditation can be effective in pain reduction as well as blood pressure and diabetes control.  

Curious to begin your own meditation or mindfulness practice? There are abundant resources available online to help. You may want to sign up for one of agebuzz blogger Louise Applebome’s online Zoom yoga classes. To further expand your familiarity and connection with meditation, you should try out one of the Wirecutter’s recent recommendations for Best Meditation Apps or jot down some of Mindworks’ free Best Meditation Techniques for Seniors. Finally, the website Mindful.org provides comprehensive tutorials to help you achieve whatever meditative goals you wish to pursue. Whether online, in person, alone, or among friends, there’s never been a better time to keep your mind calm, get in touch with your inner thoughts, and become aware of your sensations and perceptions in order to face whatever comes next.