Only 15 minutes of daily meditation have the same effect as a day of rest

This was revealed by a study conducted by Christopher May of the University of Groningen and published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.

In the past, other studies have shown that as regards reducing stress and increased mood, meditation has the same effects as a brief break.

This study included 40 young adults who have been given a CD to meditate on for 15 minutes a day for a few weeks at a time.

In addition, authors have systematically traced every time participants were at a break from their normal daily work and other obligations.

Thus, researchers measured the relative impact of rest and meditation on such conditions as positive or negative emotions experienced, psychophysic well - being, the state of calm also understood as the ability to listen to ourselves and the world around (for example, to stop at the sound of a bird or a tick an hour in a room or even in the sound of a passing car).

“We have seen that only 15 minutes of meditation is associated with effects similar to those caused by a” holiday: a greater awareness of self and the environment, of positive emotions and of relaxation, May explained.