mindfulness
Mindfulness (noun) means the practice of paying deliberate, non-judgemental attention to the present moment, including your breath, body and thoughts, often as a way of reducing stress. Example: “Ten minutes of mindfulness each morning has helped her anxiety.”
How to Use Mindfulness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPaying calm attention to what is happening right now, without judging it.
Neutral and widespread in health, education and workplace contexts; occasionally used dismissively when it feels like corporate wellbeing jargon.
The adjective is mindful, and it also has an older everyday sense of "careful of", as in "mindful of the cost".
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Ten minutes of _____ each morning has helped her anxiety.
Etymology
From mindful plus -ness. The modern psychological sense translates Pali sati, 'awareness, recollection', from Buddhist teaching.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for mindfulness
See all rhymes for mindfulness →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation?
Meditation is a formal practice you sit down to do; mindfulness is the quality of attention it trains, which you can bring to anything, including washing up or walking. Mindfulness meditation is one type of meditation among many.
How do you practise mindfulness?
Choose something to anchor your attention, usually the breath or physical sensations, notice when your mind wanders, and return to the anchor without criticising yourself. A few minutes a day is enough to start.
Does mindfulness actually work?
Structured programmes such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy have reasonable evidence for reducing stress and preventing relapse in recurrent depression. It is not a substitute for treatment of serious mental illness.