Well, yes. That’s the short answer. Meditation has been shown to be effective in reducing emotional distress and increasing clarity. And it works with as little as 15, 20 or 30 minutes a day. But the key is consistency. A daily meditation practice, consistently applied has 76 benefits per this compilation of scientific studies by Giovanni at liveanddare.com, including:
Our Emotional Well-being:
improving mood and wellbeing (up 65%) by decreasing anxiety (down 30%) and depression (down 75%)
reducing stress and improving self-esteem
increasing optimism and relaxation
reducing fear and loneliness
improving resiliency
Our Minds
Improving focus and memory
Improving thinking and creativity
reducing distractions
Our Bodies
Improving immune system and breathing
reducing blood pressure and heart problems
enhancing longevity
So with all of the benefits meditation has to offer, how can someone get started? Well, thanks to Leo Babauta at Zen Habits here are 20 practical tips to help you start meditating.