Over the last few years the term ‘Mindfulness’ has become more and more apparent. With our busy and stressful lives where just stopping to think feels like its going to take up too much of our precious time we are looking for ways in which to relax and unwind.

What is mindfulness?

Mark Williams, professor of clinical psychology at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, says that mindfulness means knowing directly what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment.
Professor Williams says that mindfulness can be an antidote to the “tunnel vision” that can develop in our daily lives, especially when we are busy, stressed or tired.
“It’s easy to stop noticing the world around us. It’s also easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living ‘in our heads’ – caught up in our thoughts without stopping to notice how those thoughts are driving our emotions and behaviour,” he says.
“An important part of mindfulness is reconnecting with our bodies and the sensations they experience. This means waking up to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the present moment. That might be something as simple as the feel of a banister as we walk upstairs.
“Another important part of mindfulness is an awareness of our thoughts and feelings as they happen moment to moment.
“Awareness of this kind doesn’t start by trying to change or fix anything. It’s about allowing ourselves to see the present moment clearly. When we do that, it can positively change the way we see ourselves and our lives.”*

A US Study found that just four days of 20 minutes per day mindfulness training improved working memory and the ability to sustain attention and a recent review of nearly 50 scientific studies found that mindfulness was as effective as anti-depressants in helping depression, nut with no side effects.*

On a personal level I started over a year ago with an App called Headspace and put aside 10 minutes a day at the end of the day to give it a go. I have been very slack recently in using it but I recommend it for anyone wanting to try and unwind a bit more and become more ‘mindful’ without the need to sit there cross legged, humming away whilst getting frustrated because you are not in a ‘Zen-like state’!

*Source NHS UK

*Source Headspace