Mindfulness
Mindfulness can help us
- improve our mental health
- enjoy life and the world around us more
- understand ourselves better
It's recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a way to prevent depression in people who have had depression in the past.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is like a gym session for the mind. It helps us to notice our own thoughts and feelings, and be more aware of the world around us.
It can be easy to rush through life without noticing much, almost like being on autopilot. Have you ever driven somewhere and not really remembered which way you came? Or walked the dog and not really noticed the view?
Because we live at such a fast pace, and we are bombarded with information we can end up 'living in our heads', but we can train our attention, just like we can our muscles, and this is what mindfulness is all about.
How to be more mindful
Reminding yourself to take notice of your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the world around you, is the first step to mindfulness.
The NHS recommends some simple ways we can all be more mindful on their moodzone pages:
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Notice the everyday
"Even as we go about our daily lives, we can notice the sensations of things, the food we eat, the air moving past the body as we walk," says Professor Chris Williams *. "All this may sound very small, but it has huge power to interrupt the 'autopilot' mode we often engage day to day, and to give us new perspectives on life.
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Keep it regular
"It can be helpful to pick a regular time – the morning journey to work or a walk at lunchtime, during which you decide to be aware of the sensations created by the world around you."
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Try something new
"Trying new things, such as sitting in a different seat in meetings or going somewhere new for lunch, can also help you notice the world in a new way."
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Watch your thoughts
"Some people find it very difficult to practice mindfulness. As soon as they stop what they're doing, lots of thoughts and worries crowd in," says Professor Williams *.
"It might be useful to remember that mindfulness isn't about making these thoughts go away, but rather about seeing them as mental events.
"Imagine standing at a bus station and seeing 'thought buses' coming and going without having to get on them and be taken away. This can be very hard at first, but with gentle persistence it is possible.
"Some people find that it is easier to cope with an over-busy mind if they are doing gentle yoga or walking."
*Dr Chris Williams is Professor of Psychosocial Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK and former director of Mindfulness UK.
Find out more and try it for yourself
The Mental Health Foundation - mindfulness - how it could help you and free online introduction.
Download
(80 KB) booklet.
