Why is mindfulness important

However, this study also found that general supportive therapies impacted telomere length; so, there may not be something special about MBSR that impacts cell aging. On the other hand, another study with breast cancer survivors found no differences in telomere length after taking an MBSR course; but they did find differences in telomere activity, which is also related to cell aging. In fact, a review of research ties mindfulness training to increased telomere activity, suggesting it indirectly affects the integrity of the telomeres in our cells.

First of all, a great deal of research suggests that mindfulness can help healthy people reduce their stress. For example, drug addictions, at heart, come about because of physiological cravings for a substance that relieves people temporarily from their psychological suffering. The same is true for people struggling with overeating. In fact, it may be difficult to separate out the two, as a key impact of mindfulness is stress reduction, and psychological stress has been tied to heart health , immune response , and telomere length.

This idea is further supported by the fact that other stress-reducing therapies also seem to impact physical health, as well. Jill Suttie, Psy. She received her doctorate of psychology from the University of San Francisco in and was a psychologist in private practice before coming to Greater Good. Become a subscribing member today. Scroll To Top According to thousands of years of tradition, Buddhists meditate to understand themselves and their connections to all beings. Get the science of a meaningful life delivered to your inbox.

About the Author. Jill Suttie Jill Suttie, Psy. You might be wondering, "What can I expect to notice if I practice a mindfulness exercise faithfully and consistently every day for a month? First off, the changes are subtle at first and different for everyone.

However, it's common for a person practicing mindfulness regularly to begin to be more present to each moment. They become more engaged with the people in their life and have a heightened awareness of what they say and how they say things. Sometimes their surroundings come alive. Without mindfulness, it's typical for people to be thinking of other things and tuning out their environment most of the time as they move through their day.

When you become more mindful, sometimes colors, smells, and scenery are more vivid; details stand out that you previously missed. Internally you may feel your mind slowing down with an increased mental spaciousness like you're more comfortable in your own skin. Life's challenges tend to not upset you quite as much when being more mindful, so there are fewer knee-jerk reactions.

In general, increased mindfulness enhances how we experience the world. Thanks to emerging research and advanced MRI studies of the brain, we can now see how mindfulness changes the physical brain.

Whichever resonates with you more—your brain changing or a greater feeling of self-awareness—the gap between emotion and science is converging over mindfulness. Don't miss more informative blogs on emotional intelligence and brain fitness, sign up for our blog today.

For more customized support and information on how to retrain your mind and rewire your brain, feel free to contact us at Heartmanity. Jennifer A. She teaches emotional intelligence skills and a step-by-step process that removes the obstacles to growth, loving connection, and communication.

Her popular One Year Makeover and Return to Serenity programs provide a personalized approach to transformation. By utilizing brain science, clients integrate unresolved pain and restore inner peace and well-being through a fun learning experience. Jennifer also creates cultural transformation in companies with leaders and teams.

Jennifer is happily married to her beloved husband and is the mother of three grown children. Organisations are becoming more invested in the wellbeing of employees due to an increased awareness of the costs associated with an unhealthy workforce. Absenteeism, presenteeism, turnover, and a lack of productivity are all very costly issues that are closely tied to employee stress and mental health.

The number of sick days lost to serious mental health issues has doubled in the past decade and mental health is the leading cause of sickness-related absences. Resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations is critical to wellbeing. During stressful periods, employees with high levels of resilience will be able to persevere and remain engaged and productive. Mindfulness at work can support resilience by equipping employees with the ability to understand their emotions, their level of stress, and their ability to influence them.

Mindfulness training enables employees to respond to difficult situations effectively and has been shown to have a positive effect on burnout, wellbeing, and stress.

Other research has shown that employees who practice mindfulness have higher levels of well-being through improved emotional resilience, better work-life balance, and higher job performance ratings. Healthy working relationships are a cornerstone of employee happiness at work. Positive working relationships yield more productive teams, altruistic behaviour, and ultimately increased productivity.

Many studies have shown a clear link between mindfulness and improved workplace relationships. The link between these two also extends beyond the workplace to more satisfying personal relationships and increased empathy and sympathy when interacting with others.

Developing strong workplace relationships is particularly important for organisational leaders. Leaders need to develop the capacity to acknowledge their thoughts and environment so that they can present an informed response as opposed to an emotional reaction. This is particularly important during times of change or stress.

Creativity is essential for innovation and problem-solving. Without creativity, new products and services will not be developed and processes will not improve. There is evidence to support a relationship between mindfulness and creativity. When people are in better control of their emotions, they experience less stress and can be more creative. By practicing accepting your experience during meditation, it becomes easier to accept whatever comes your way during the rest of your day.

In addition to formal meditation, you can also cultivate mindfulness informally by focusing your attention on your moment-to-moment sensations during everyday activities. This is done by single-tasking—doing one thing at a time and giving it your full attention.

As you floss your teeth, pet the dog, or eat an apple, slow down the process and be fully present as it unfolds and involves all of your senses. If mindfulness meditation appeals to you, going to a class or listening to a meditation tape can be a good way to start. In the meantime, here are two mindfulness exercises you can try on your own.

A less formal approach to mindfulness can also help you to stay in the present and fully participate in your life. You can choose any task or moment to practice informal mindfulness, whether you are eating, showering, walking, touching a partner, or playing with a child or grandchild. Attending to these points will help:. The effects of mindfulness meditation tend to be dose-related — the more you do, the more effect it usually has.

Most people find that it takes at least 20 minutes for the mind to begin to settle, so this is a reasonable way to start. But you can get started by practicing the techniques described here for shorter periods.

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