How does meditation help?

Meditation has several benefits, as shown by various studies. Here are some key points:

1. Enhances Focus: Meditation, especially short practices of around 13 minutes daily, can greatly enhance our ability to focus. This is because meditation involves refocusing exercises that improve the circuits of the brain involved in focus. This is not just about mindfulness, but more about perceptual or focus-based training.

2. Improves Mood and Sleep: Regular meditation can also greatly enhance mood and sleep, along with various aspects of cognitive performance. This is because being present to one's experience, which is a key aspect of meditation, correlates with increased happiness.

3. Boosts Cognitive Abilities: Daily meditation of around 13 minutes can enhance your ability to pay attention and learn, thereby enhancing memory. However, it's important to note that these effects start to show up after at least eight weeks of consistent practice.

4. Helps in Self-Assessment: Meditation can help you assess whether you are more inward-focused or outward-focused. Depending on your bias, you can choose to do the opposite to balance your focus. For instance, if you're tilted towards interoception (inward focus), you can do an exteroceptive (outward focus) practice, and vice versa.

Remember, the key to reaping these benefits is consistency in practice.