How Daily Mindfulness Improves Your Brain

The term ‘mindfulness’ gets a lotta play these days, but what does it actually mean?  If you’re wondering about this trendy buzzword, you’re not alone. And yes, it’s way more than pseudoscience or make-believe. Believe it or not, properly applied mindfulness actually changes the neurochemistry and structure of your brain. Pretty wild, huh?  So let’s not delay. Let’s get right into the real science of mindfulness and what it can do for you! 1. Mindfulness and Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to ‘rewire.’ In other words, it can adapt and change throughout your entire life, even forming new neural connections that are totally unexpected. Thanks to neuroplasticity, many individuals with brain injuries are finding new hope. And mindfulness can help. Research indicates that daily mindful practices such as yoga, meditation, and breathwork, actually make your brain more adaptive. In one study, just eight weeks of meditation increased the amount of gray matter in participants’ brains. This, in turn, was linked with improved learning and memory.  Pretty cool, right?  2. Focus and Attention We zip around on our smartphones and devices, check our emails and messages, and are constantly bombarded with stimuli.  This is where mindfulness comes in.  Research shows...