Meditation may seem to be a trend that only started to be popular within the past decade, but meditation has been a daily activity in which people have participated in for thousands of years. So what's so great about it?

You've probably heard people say that meditation is known to reduce stress in one's life or that it offers time in the day for your brain to process all that it has endured over the past 24 hours. While both of these statements are true, meditation can offer so much more than just "relaxing time."

I first started meditating a few years ago when I thought it would be a great idea to learn how to lucid dream. I had done some research and Googled how to achieve a state lucid dreaming and to my surprise, a lot of people who meditated on a daily basis were also able to control and be aware of their dreams.

The first time I tried it I felt ridiculous. I kept asking myself if I was doing it right and if all I had to do was just sit there. It took a great amount of patience for me to stay completely still with no distractions for the first ten minutes.

However, it became evident very quickly that there's not a right way or a wrong way to meditate and the act itself is completely tailored to your preferences. Some people are animated about their meditating preferences, but techniques vary greatly from person to person.

When I meditate I like to lay down, however, some are skeptical to lying down while meditating due the greater possibility of accidentally falling asleep. Although, it does happen more than what I'd like to admit.

The most important part is to find a position that you're most comfortable in and to completely relax all muscles in your body, and nothing should feel tense. From there I usually focus all of my attention to whatever is going on either around me or in my head.

Meditating is great for boosting creativity. It allows me to come up with new ideas or reflect on the past and present. Once I got in the habit of taking time out of my day to meditate, I was able to sleep better and recall certain events easier and more precisely.

I never did get the hang of lucid dreaming entirely though. I would occasionally be aware while I was dreaming, but I could never change the course of events were taking place.

I still try to meditate when I have time even today. Although I don't do it as often as I'd like to, I can still notice the difference in my sleeping schedule on the days I choose to meditate. Overall, I just feel more ready to go in the mornings and often happier.

Meditating isn't for everyone, but it's not just for the hippies either. Self reflection and relaxation is important to practice in today's fast paced world. Next time you're alone and find yourself scrolling through your Facebook feed or watching Netflix, try something new to escape the world for a moment and consider meditating.