Book contents
- Reviews
- Brain Boost
- Brain Boost
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Introduction
- 1 The Importance of Exercise
- 2 Eating for Health and Wellbeing
- 3 Why Do We Need Sleep?
- 4 Why Is Social Interaction So Important?
- 5 Social Kindness and Helping Others
- 6 Mindfulness and Enjoying the Moment
- 7 Keeping Your Brain Fit through Learning
- 8 Don’ts: What Not to Do
- 9 Experience the Benefits of Work
- 10 Now It’s Your Time to Boost Your Brain
- Acknowledgements
- References
- Index
6 - Mindfulness and Enjoying the Moment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 January 2025
- Reviews
- Brain Boost
- Brain Boost
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Introduction
- 1 The Importance of Exercise
- 2 Eating for Health and Wellbeing
- 3 Why Do We Need Sleep?
- 4 Why Is Social Interaction So Important?
- 5 Social Kindness and Helping Others
- 6 Mindfulness and Enjoying the Moment
- 7 Keeping Your Brain Fit through Learning
- 8 Don’ts: What Not to Do
- 9 Experience the Benefits of Work
- 10 Now It’s Your Time to Boost Your Brain
- Acknowledgements
- References
- Index
Summary
Mindfulness has evolved from a psychological intervention to a transformative lifestyle practice, offering profound benefits for mental health and cognition. By focusing on the present moment, mindfulness cultivates self-awareness and effective coping mechanisms, thereby reducing stress and promoting emotional regulation. Evidence suggests that structured mindfulness training enhances emotional wellbeing, mitigating anxiety and depression, and improving sleep quality, even during periods of heightened stress like the COVID-19 pandemic. In educational settings, mindfulness contributes to reduced depression and anxiety while enhancing academic performance. Moreover, it fosters resilience and job satisfaction among professionals in high-stress environments. Cognitive benefits of mindfulness include improvements in executive function, attentional control, and working memory, even in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroscientific studies reveal structural and functional brain changes in regions involved in attention and emotion regulation. Embracing mindfulness as a regular practice empowers individuals to navigate life’s challenges with resilience, promoting mental health, creativity, and overall quality of life.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Brain BoostHealthy Habits for a Happier Life, pp. 68 - 77Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025