How Meditation Can Help You Study Smarter? by Sumayya Nagori

Studying is an easy task for some. Other people find it extremely challenging.

Sumayya Nagori says that meditation can help unlock the potential within you, whether you're trying to find the motivation to study or dealing with the anxiety that comes with it.

 

So where does meditation help out? 

Studies show that self-regulation and impulse control are more important indicators of academic success than IQ. According to a US study, “meditators reported staying on task longer and switching less frequently, as well as reporting less negative feedback after completing a task.”

Meditation and mindfulness exercises, such as thought control and breathing, can help you focus. As simple as breathing in and holding for five to eight seconds, then exhaling for five to eight seconds can do the trick.

What if you forgot a vital piece of information you know you studied for during an exam?

There's a reason behind that. It makes us less able to remember and manipulate our thoughts contextually when we are stressed. An American academic decided to see how effective meditation would be for those who work in high-pressure fields where a reduced working memory capacity would be detrimental. Their conclusion? Amazing.

Before and during a combat deployment, researchers tested a group of marines. Working memory capacity was reduced among marines who weren't trained in meditation techniques under pressure. It has been found, however, that marines who meditated for more than 10 minutes over an 8-week period maintained their memory and improved their ability.

It's all about habit.

The habit of meditation is important. If you want to make meditation a regular practice and a time to relax, you should pick a time when you can unwind. As Sumayya Nagori notes, it could be in the morning to ease into a busy day of school, or in the evening to let go of a chaotic study session.