Mindfulness has been a buzz word in the past years, there are a lot of definitions out there, however the one that I like is the one that refers to mindfulness as the ability to focus on the present moment experience without evaluation. I started practising mindfulness three years ago and I have had a very positive experience. It has had a very strong impact on my professional career and on my personal life, but most importantly, it has allowed me to better understand how my mind works.

What drew me to Mindfulness?

Three years ago I had just quit my previous job, it was a very fast-paced job that required me to interact with clients, take action urgently, someone was always chasing, I was always on the phone or always typing emails. Although I initially enjoyed the buzz of staying busy, I eventually made the sad realisation that I had gradually turned into some form of mindless automaton. I was also constantly on edge. I had a very short attention span, my ability to think longterm had been destroyed as I focused on dealing with whatever short term crisis appeared in front of me. Having left this toxic work environment, I thought it would be a good opportunity to start fresh and to get rid of these bad habits thad I had developed – this is what drew me to mindfulness.

My Expectations of Mindfulness Vs. What it Actually Entailed

A lot of people including myself, when they start practising mindfulness believe that mindfulness is this magical tool that helps your brain relax, allows you to effectively concentrate and gets rid of your anxieties. As I got started, I realised how this expectation could not be further away from the truth. One of the first things that you will learn is that having these types of expectations could be an added form of conflict and could act against you. Once you get started, you will soon realise that the mind is constantly changing, the concept of ‘Impermanence’ is extremely important and the sooner you learn to live by understanding what state your mind is in, the more effective your sessions will be. Sometimes you will be agitated and sometimes you will be tranquil in your mind, acknowledging these states is the first step in having an effective mindfulness session.

How Long are the Sessions?

For me the sessions can last any time between 10 to 20 minutes. I find a quiet space and I listen to a guided meditation which will very often focus on breathing exercises. It will depend on the state of your mind but at first you will have a lot of thoughts coming and going, as you keep practising, you will learn to deal with these thoughts. It is important to keep a habit of practising mindfulness and not putting too much pressure on yourself. Find a routine, I usually prastice mindfulness in the mornings and I have been sticking to this habit for the last few years. It helps me clear my mind and look at things from a different perspective.

Where Can I Find Guided Meditations?

I have been using a paid app called HeadSpace however in this post I will not go into detail about this app as there are a lot of free alternatives out there. This YouTube video is just one of the many examples of guided meditations that you can find online. Find a quiet place where you know you will not be disturbed for the next 10-20 minutes and start listening. At first it is advisable to use a guided meditation that will help you with breathing exercises however as you get more and more used to it, you can replace these with silence. What is important is that you make time during the day to engage your mind and to understand in what state your mind is in.

Conclusion: Benefits of Mindfulness

Since I started this habit, I definitely feel less stressed and a lot calmer. This has been very helpful also for my job which involves a lot of programming and concentrating on types of problems which are more complicated than the problems that I used to encounter at my previous jobs. My attention spam is longer and overall I just feel happier. This happiness and tranquility mainly comes from having a better understanding of my mind even on days when I might be more agitated and nervous. If you have been thinking about starting mindfulness I strongly recommend it, you will not regret it.