How Mindfulness Can Make You Happier

Practising mindfulness can help you be happier, more focused and help to reduce stress. And meditation isn’t the only way.

- Hoe I Yune

You’ve probably heard of mindfulness. It’s become the buzzword that’s bandied around as the solution to just about anything whether you’re stuck in traffic, burnt out at work, or trying to raise a well-adjusted kid. Those who practise mindfulness call it the perfect antidote to a busy life that can sometimes seem like one long to-do list, while cynics dismiss it as new-age mumbo-jumbo. So let’s get things straight – what exactly is mindfulness?

Erin Lee, a mindfulness coach who runs her own practice, Mindful Moments, explains it as having a moment-to-moment awareness of what’s going on around you, and how it makes you feel. It started out as a spiritual practice but has become part of everyday life. The practice of mindfulness teaches that dwelling in the past or worrying about the future can be emotionally damaging and unproductive. “Mindfulness trains the mind and attention, in order to ground you in the present moment as and when needed,” she says, adding that it helps you focus, feel less stressed out, and have greater clarity about what triggers certain feelings.

The best part? You can be mindful anytime, anywhere. You just need to know how, and then you practise, practise, practise.