The Importance Of Mindfulness & How Headspace Gets Us There

Step one towards mindfulness might just be logging into Headspace

Be honest: you’ve overlooked the prospect of meditation at least once. It’s happened to all of us one time or another. After all, meditation might not seem like the most active solution to real, pressing predicaments like lack of sleep, emotional stress or anxiety. However, with all that’s going on outside, we urge believers and skeptics alike to consider the hidden importance of meditation—and on a deeper level, mindfulness.

According to American psychologist and author Martha M. Linehan, mindfulness is defined as “the act of consciously focusing your mind in the present moment without judgment and without attachment to the moment.” It’s a confusing thought, what with all the advice we hear and content we consume about living in the moment. With the #YOLO mentality (we know, who still says #YOLO?) ingrained in our systems, how exactly does the concept of mindfulness come into play?

RELATED: Things To Do That Don’t Involve A Screen

Mindfulness means being present

Being mindful, despite Linehan’s definition, does not mean being detached. In fact, it’s rather the opposite: mindfulness means being conscious, being present. It’s the force that allows us to do things conscientiously instead of simply going through the motions of daily life.

Mindfulness means clarity of mind

Those who suffer from insomnia, chronic stress and concentration issues know this best: mental chaos can truly do a number on you on the worst of ways. One of the ways to open the path to a calmer, clearer mind is through a lifestyle of mindfulness—observing, listening and participating actively instead of being distracted by thoughts of the past and looming what-ifs. Sound mind, sound body, sound soul.

Mindfulness means better decisions

How would the world change if we were more objective about our problems, our relationships and even our feelings? What difference would it make to side-step our instinct of deciding based on our personal biases? Would your life have changed in any way if you had assessed a situation in the past from a bird’s eye view, before making a choice? The answer may be more drastic than we realize. Making an effort to experience the everyday in a manner that is guided by mindfulness can allow us to open our worldviews, and ultimately, trudge forward with no regrets.

RELATED: The #NewNormal Essentials: For Work, Home & The Community

Meditation is a stepping stone to achieving mindfulness. And no, by meditation, we don’t necessarily mean sitting with your legs crossed in a pretzel and shutting your eyes (although that’s definitely a welcome form of meditating, too!). There are many types of meditation, and the practice may look or sound different from person to person. And with technology and educational platforms like Lifetech well within reach, we're able to better and more easily achieve the mindfulness we're all hoping for. 

After all, at its core, meditation is simply an exercise in compassion and self-discovery.

Headspace is an app that allows users to do just that. Dedicated to improving the health and happiness of the world, Headspace offers everything from guided meditation to articles and videos that can aid in unlocking a more mindful lifestyle. Start off with a 10-day beginner’s course to ease you into the basics of meditation, then subscribe to unlock a world of unimpeded thought and deeper feeling. 

Be kind to your mind. Download the Headspace app on the App Store or Google Play.

For more information on Lifetech that helps you stay on track and in control of your life, click here.