‘Mindfulness’ is an essential element of Buddhist practise. It is being employed in psychology more and more to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions, including OCD, anxiety and depression.

As our lives continue to become busier and we place more and more pressure upon ourselves to meet the strains of daily life, we are turning into a nation of over worked, over stressed and over stimulated individuals. As we strive to maintain a healthy balance between work and relaxation we are constantly sacrificing solitude, down time and time with family and friends in order to adhere to our busy schedules.

We are fighting a constant battle between our digital companions such as mobile phones, laptops and the added pressures of social media and as a result we are becoming hyperactive and unable to wind down and losing sight of what is important.

The tools we need to maintain the balance between work and relaxation are all at our fingertips just waiting to be tapped into – such as yoga, meditation and the increasingly popular movement of mindfulness and mindful living.

The creator of The Centre for Mindfulness defines the practice as ‘paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally and…as if your life depended on it!’ In summary, it is basically an awareness of the here and now. It is a constant re-direction of awareness and a way of re-connecting with your life as it is, right now in this very moment. The benefit of being ‘mindful’ is that we have a wiser relationship with what is actually going on in our lives rather than being at the mercy of everything around us including our relentless thoughts, emotions, reactions and judgements.

The most common use for mindfulness is relaxation, stress reduction and spiritual advancement – and is often used in conjunction with yoga and meditation. It is becoming extremely popular with celebrities, athletes and company CEO’s. Mindfulness when done correctly can help to benefit in other ways such as better mood regulation, increased immune function, reduced sickness, better relationships, and higher energy levels.

Mindfulness does not require you to sit cross legged with your eyes closed in a state of meditation. It is simply the act of taking a few minutes out of each day to focus your attention and strengthen your mind. When we practice mindfulness we are tuning our thoughts into what we are sensing at the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.

A good rule of thumb for newcomers to mindfulness is the ‘3 second rule’. When you hug a child or a loved one, hold the embrace for a count of 3 seconds and absorb every thought and feeling associated with it – without the distraction of technology or the outside world. This is mindfulness – living in the present and creating a more relaxed and happier you. J