Tracking the Inner Journey: A 29-Day Single-Case Study of Meditation's Impact on Mental Clarity, Mood, and Rumination

Meditation has increasingly been recognized as an effective approach for improving emotion regulation, enhancing attention, and reducing default mode network (DMN) activity. Despite extensive laboratory-based evidence, longitudinal and experience-based data capable of capturing cognitive, emotional, and physiological changes within real-life contexts remain limited. The present study employs a 29-day single-case design to examine the effects of daily meditation practice through daily self-reports, weekly administrations of standardized psychological questionnaires (PANAS, MAAS, BDI-II, BAI, PSS-10), and a customdeveloped Mental Clarity Scale (MCS). Mood fluctuations, physiological patterns, and a stable supplement regimen were also documented throughout the study period. Findings indicated that consistent meditation practice was associated with gradual reductions in rumination, increased mindfulness, improved positive affect, and lower perceived stress. The trajectory of change followed a three-phase pattern characterized by an initial period of calm, a mid-cycle phase of instability, and a subsequent stabilization phase. Contextual factors such as sleep quality and physical activity appeared to influence the intensity and direction of these changes. Overall, the study suggests that single-case longitudinal self-report data can reveal structured and meaningful patterns related to meditation processes and may inform the development of more comprehensive research designs in future studies.