What is Mindfulness?
"Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with intention, while letting go of judgment, as if your life depended on it. ”
- DR. JON KABAT-ZINN
Activity
Please complete the following exploration and reflect on how you currently may or may not integrate mindfulness into your life.
After you have completed the exploration, please view the results to see how you compare to others.
After you have completed the exploration, please view the results to see how you compare to others.
Why Mindfulness?
There are many researched benefits to mindfulness training, however, something that is particularly important for students is the ability to train your brain to sustain attention. Creswell (2017) describes one of the most well controlled trials “showed that MBSR (Mindfulness-based stress reduction) demonstrated superior benefits on sustained attention and working memory.” Anxiety and depression amongst students of all ages is rising at alarming rates and MBSR could be the key to unlocking the hold that these mental health issues have on individuals at any age.
Video: Mindfulness as a Superpower?
Did you Know?
Studies show that our mind wanders 47% of the time on a daily basis. |
Mind wandering has been attributed to unhappiness, anxiety and depression. |
In the classroom and life; attention, focus and memory retention are important components of students success, however, many students are struggling to stay focused.
Mindfulness and its Impact on the Brain
Mindfulness training of some kind has been proven to significantly improve a students overall well being, helping them sustain focus as well as impact their working memory.
Source: https://twitter.com/911well/status/622980965326028801
Do you have to meditate everyday to be mindful? Not necessarily, just as long as you are living in the present moment, with awareness and without judgement, you could improve your overall wellbeing. However, studies have shown that consistently practicing meditation is the most effective way to shift anxiety and depression and increase happiness and joy.
Source: https://imgur.com/gallery/ZmMcbYU
Quick Tips
Some quick ways to integrate mindfulness in your life or in your classroom:
Chunk InformationChunking information (10 minutes or less), varying the content, switching between modalities.
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Body BreaksTake frequent body breaks.
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Social BreaksTake frequent social breaks to have face-to-face conversations.
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StrategyIncorporate teaching strategies that encourage social interaction.
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GratitudePractice daily gratitude by blogging or journaling.
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Mindful MinutesIntegrate mindful minutes into your day.
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An Example of How to Integrate Mindfulness into a Tech-Enabled Classroom
Activity: 360 Video
Please watch the following video we created to learn some techniques for getting started with Mindfulness:
Watch on your smartphone with or without Google Cardboard in the YouTube app or in Google Chrome on your desktop.
Watch on your smartphone with or without Google Cardboard in the YouTube app or in Google Chrome on your desktop.
Limitations of Mindfulness and Technology
Example:
Limit Technology to Improve Mindfulness
The nature of Mindfulness is that we take time to disconnect from anything that causes our brain to become overstimulated. Therefore, in order to practice proper mindfulness, you would need to limit technology on a daily basis. Deschne (2013) writes in her article on the tiny buddha website “[a]t what point does technology stop enhancing life and start detracting from it?” Ultimately we all need to find that balance between using technology as an aid in mindfulness versus distracting from it. Integrating technology and mindfulness may just be perpetuating our society’s addiction to technology.
What are some other limitations to mindfulness and technology? Please share your thoughts on our discussion page.
The nature of Mindfulness is that we take time to disconnect from anything that causes our brain to become overstimulated. Therefore, in order to practice proper mindfulness, you would need to limit technology on a daily basis. Deschne (2013) writes in her article on the tiny buddha website “[a]t what point does technology stop enhancing life and start detracting from it?” Ultimately we all need to find that balance between using technology as an aid in mindfulness versus distracting from it. Integrating technology and mindfulness may just be perpetuating our society’s addiction to technology.
What are some other limitations to mindfulness and technology? Please share your thoughts on our discussion page.