With the noise and pace becoming louder and more frantic – now, more than ever, it's crucial to take time out. Going inwards is where it's at if you want to get a bit more slo-mo in your status quo. If you're starting on your meditation journey, think of this as a guideline.

Getting its name from the Latin word 'meditatum,' which means 'to ponder,' people in the know believe meditation emerged before modern civilisation, thousands and thousands of years ago. Ancient texts, hieroglyphs and archaeological findings all point to hunter-gatherers being down with some form of meditation. The question is – what kind of practice did they do: trance, chants, contemplation or mindfulness? When looking to find the origins of meditation, it's easier to split the discussion into East and West. Even though this practice shows up on the spiritual path of numerous religions, Buddhism is where it's at. Around 2,600 years ago, The Buddha began moving towards ultimate enlightenment, ethical conduct and the wisdom of seeking truth. In search of peace, people began practising and sharing the Buddha's teachings. In the Western world, meditation has only been popular since the mid-20th century. Over the years, Eastern masters have shared their expertise and learning with curious Western students. At the same time, western novices of mindfulness began travelling east to train under celebrated masters. They then brought the knowledge home. Over 30 years ago, Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Center for Mindfulness and the program, MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) which has been spreading the strengths of this discipline without religious affiliation ever since. Now, meditation and mindfulness have well and truly landed in the public consciousness.

With so many positives effects across four aspects of wellbeing, it's more a case of what doesn't meditation help with, rather than what it does. Spiritually speaking, when you quieten your mind, your ego fades to the background giving you unobstructed commune with your soul and spirit. This allows you to see what's going on inside and work towards higher consciousness. It also unblocks psychic pathways so you can nurture your energy levels. Research demonstrates the physical positives; stress relief and alleviation of conditions like PTSD, IBS and fibromyalgia. Meditation has also been linked to lowering memory loss, inflammation and blood pressure. Mentally, his practice gives you the tools to detach from the turmoil when it becomes overwhelming. It provides an escape; aiding anxiety, depression and insomnia. Emotionally, meditation develops self-love and lifts you closer to universal love. From here, you're more equipped to let things go. And exhale.

Push past the uncomfortable feeling of sitting in silence; it almost always feels weird at the beginning. Whatever your motivation, think of meditation as awareness training; transforming your perspective and ultimately, your life. When you're starting, commit to regular practice – aim for a few times a week for 10-15 each time. Most people love first thing in the morning but go with whatever works for you. Sit wherever and however is comfy and relaxing, and remember – frequency is better than duration. Meditation is a long journey and demands dedication and tenacity.