You know how every so often you find your mind wandering off and when you return to the present moment, you can’t tell how long you’ve been captivated by those thoughts? It can be as simple as daydreaming during your commute or being completely absent during a conversation.

Think of meditation as an exercise in waiting for your mind to wander away and bringing it back to the present moment.

Just like walking a dog. If your dog is young and energetic, she’s going to be pulling you in every direction. Before taking her somewhere like a forest trail where she could get hurt, it would be helpful to walk her somewhere safer and with less distractions to get her used to listening to you and walking on a leash.

Similarly, observing your thoughts in a controlled environment will help you practice losing focus and regaining it again. So whether you want to be a better listener, more productive at work, or more observant in your day to day life, meditation is worth a try.

Now that your mind is pointed in the right direction, here is another benefit that will put that focus to use.