A version of this article originally appeared in Issue Ten of Gear Patrol Magazine with the headline How to Get Better at Everything Subscribe today Illustrations by EMMANUEL POLANCO

Its not just yogis and gurus who benefit from quiet time dedicated to focusing on the present moment; elite athletes and corporate strivers alike practice meditation for its performance benefits. The mind-body discipline has long been known to boost concentration, reduce stress and help with a good nights sleep. But dedicated training can also produce faster, better decision-making thanks to increased adaptability and insight. Its a simple, effective way to step up your game, no matter what that game is. Pause, take a breath, and read on to learn your TMs from your FAMs from your oooooommmms.

Best for CEOs: Open monitoring meditation involves watching your thoughts and feelings without becoming attached to them, maintaining a non-reactive and non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. Its been a favored technique of CEOs like Arianna Huffington and the late Steve Jobs. Recent research suggests OMM practitioners can control their states of consciousness and attention, and according to Michael Gervais, a high-performance psychologist who works with the NFLs Seattle Seahawks, long-term repetition can help identify which thought patterns are beneficial to performance and which ones are worth discarding. Plus, OMM can promote divergent thinking, which is conducive to creativity.

Best for Athletes: Focused attention meditation increases mindfulness by turning your concentration to your breath. By focusing on a simple target, like the in and out of your lungs, its easier to notice when your mind wanders, says Christina Heilman, Ph.D, C.S.C.S., and author of Elevate Your Excellence: The Mindset and Methods That Make Champions.

Focus is a huge part of athletic performance, Heilman says. Wherever your focus goes, everything follows. Learning to ignore irrelevant cues allows insight as to whats important in the moment, whether thats hydration or a subtle shift in the opposing teams defense. Elite performers such as Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings and pro golfer Rory McIlroy practice FAM.

Best for Moguls: Transcendental meditation improves mood, attention, focus and emotional intelligence, and can promote a state of inner peace. A lot of us are stuck because we dont take time to reflect, Heilman says. A TM session allows time to process experiences and learn from them. Long-term transcendental meditators show significantly higher blood flow to the brain regions used for adjusting behavior and focusing attention. One study showed school staff in San Francisco who practiced TM enjoyed better moods, higher emotional intelligence, and increased adaptability and stress management skills.

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Meditation Can Make You Better at Everything: Here's How - Gear Patrol