With so much going on in today’s busy world, we often don’t take time to slow down and recharge, or focus on how we are actually doing. Mindfulness-based practice allows you to switch off auto-pilot mode and become aware of the present moment.

Mindfulness stems from Buddhist practice and is supported by an array of recent neuroscience research. Studies show that regular practice results in a reduction of anxiety and stress, physical pain, depressive symptoms, and improvements in creativity, attention, memory, and feelings of peace and calmness (Davis & Hayes, 2012). Mindfulness practice can even change your brain so it becomes less reactive to stressors and so you can recover from stressors when they do come your way (Taren et al., 2015). Having a calmer nervous system is so important for overall functioning, and can greatly aid with recovery of mental illness.