In this fast-paced world, we often rush to complete one task after the other, from cooking and folding laundry to talking on extra shifts at work. However, in the chaos that ensues from trying to check everything off from your to-do list, are you neglecting to acknowledge what you’re actually doing or feeling honest?
Often, we fail to notice the little things that we would enjoy; maybe your favorite flower is in bloom on your office’s compound, or maybe your scrambled eggs tasted extra good this morning. So what’s the solution? The answer is quite simple - mindfulness.
Often, we fail to notice the little things that we would enjoy; maybe your favorite flower is in bloom on your office’s compound, or maybe your scrambled eggs tasted extra good this morning. So what’s the solution? The answer is quite simple - mindfulness.
What is Mindfulness?
In simple words, mindfulness refers to a technique where you ground your thoughts purposely and focus on what’s going on in the present while accepting it completely, without any judgment. It is just observing and taking into account even the most minor things around you - smells, sounds, feelings, or emotions.
While mindfulness is believed to have its roots in Buddhism, other religions include different techniques such as chanting prayers that help divert your otherwise preoccupied mind towards appreciating small moments or developing a new perspective on life.
In simple words, mindfulness refers to a technique where you ground your thoughts purposely and focus on what’s going on in the present while accepting it completely, without any judgment. It is just observing and taking into account even the most minor things around you - smells, sounds, feelings, or emotions.
While mindfulness is believed to have its roots in Buddhism, other religions include different techniques such as chanting prayers that help divert your otherwise preoccupied mind towards appreciating small moments or developing a new perspective on life.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Making mindfulness a part of your daily routine has several benefits, as listed below.
Helps you Perform Better
By practicing mindfulness regularly, you’ll slowly develop greater self-awareness, emotional control, and a positive outlook. This will not only improve satisfaction levels but will aid you with conflict resolution, therefore helping you form deeper connections with people.
A Harvard study has also suggested that mindfulness techniques can improve your working memory, cognitive performance capabilities like problem-solving, and attention spans. If you’re mindful, you’ll notice that it is easier to savor even the smallest of pleasures or engage better in activities as a team.
Since your thoughts will be about the present, you’ll tend not to be distracted by past regrets, or worry about what could happen in the future, therefore boosting self-esteem, confidence, and most importantly, happiness.
Making mindfulness a part of your daily routine has several benefits, as listed below.
Helps you Perform Better
By practicing mindfulness regularly, you’ll slowly develop greater self-awareness, emotional control, and a positive outlook. This will not only improve satisfaction levels but will aid you with conflict resolution, therefore helping you form deeper connections with people.
A Harvard study has also suggested that mindfulness techniques can improve your working memory, cognitive performance capabilities like problem-solving, and attention spans. If you’re mindful, you’ll notice that it is easier to savor even the smallest of pleasures or engage better in activities as a team.
Since your thoughts will be about the present, you’ll tend not to be distracted by past regrets, or worry about what could happen in the future, therefore boosting self-esteem, confidence, and most importantly, happiness.
Improves Mental Health
Over the last few years, psychotherapists have started using mindfulness as a part of the treatment they recommend for several problems, including anxiety, depression, OCD, and eating disorders, to name a few.
This includes Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or MBCT, which is an eight-week group program according to the American Psychological Association. People are asked to cultivate some mindfulness exercises, including yoga, mediation, body awareness, and daily chores, while paying complete, undivided attention to what they’re doing every moment.
Over the last few years, psychotherapists have started using mindfulness as a part of the treatment they recommend for several problems, including anxiety, depression, OCD, and eating disorders, to name a few.
This includes Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or MBCT, which is an eight-week group program according to the American Psychological Association. People are asked to cultivate some mindfulness exercises, including yoga, mediation, body awareness, and daily chores, while paying complete, undivided attention to what they’re doing every moment.
Helps Alleviate Pain
Early research that explored the connection between mindfulness practices and pain intensity suggested that mindfulness has a positive impact on pain, or its psychological experience, in particular. A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2014 stated that there was moderate evidence that proved the effectiveness of mindful practices for pain. Of course, the amount of relief varied based on a case-to-case basis.
Contributes to Physical Well-Being
In 2012, a systematic review by the Campbell Collaboration concluded that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or MBSR contributed positively to personal development aspects like coping mechanisms, enhanced quality of life, and empathy and improved certain aspects of physical health as chronic illnesses.
This means that by lowering stress and helping you be more present, mindfulness techniques can lower blood pressure, improve the quality of your sleep, minimize any gastrointestinal problems, or help reduce the adverse effects of heart disease.
Final Words
Spending most of your time problem-solving, thinking, or being influenced by negative thoughts, does take a toll on you. Mindfulness techniques help you divert your attention away from draining thoughts and instead engage more positively with the world around you to ultimately bring you immense fulfillment and joy.
Early research that explored the connection between mindfulness practices and pain intensity suggested that mindfulness has a positive impact on pain, or its psychological experience, in particular. A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2014 stated that there was moderate evidence that proved the effectiveness of mindful practices for pain. Of course, the amount of relief varied based on a case-to-case basis.
Contributes to Physical Well-Being
In 2012, a systematic review by the Campbell Collaboration concluded that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or MBSR contributed positively to personal development aspects like coping mechanisms, enhanced quality of life, and empathy and improved certain aspects of physical health as chronic illnesses.
This means that by lowering stress and helping you be more present, mindfulness techniques can lower blood pressure, improve the quality of your sleep, minimize any gastrointestinal problems, or help reduce the adverse effects of heart disease.
Final Words
Spending most of your time problem-solving, thinking, or being influenced by negative thoughts, does take a toll on you. Mindfulness techniques help you divert your attention away from draining thoughts and instead engage more positively with the world around you to ultimately bring you immense fulfillment and joy.