Mindfulness
Mindfulness practice is a great way to support wellbeing in your life in and out of College. Mindfulness teaches you how to stay present with what is happening in the here and now, without judging or allowing autopilot and habitual behaviour to be in the driving seat.
Here are some of the benefits that are associated with mindfulness practice.
- Improved focus and concentration skills.
- Seeing things as they are and not jumping to conclusions.
- Reacting to situations becomes a more considered response.
- Better relationships with others.
- Greater ability to cope with disappointment and failure.
- More self-awareness and self-compassion.
- Increased ability to relax and develop better sleep patterns.
- Greater resilience.
Mindfulness is recognised and approved as an effective support for a wide range of personal and health difficulties, including;
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Chronic pain
- Food issues
- Self- criticism
- Depression
This is endorsed by The World health Organisation (WHO), The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the UK Government.
At college you can benefit from Mindfulness support through, lunchtime drop-in sessions, PDP sessions, as part of your course content, one to one sessions and by attending structured Mindfulness courses (MBLC, the Mindfulness Based Living Course).
If you would like to attend sessions, courses or have a chat about mindfulness or receive emails with mindfulness information and practices, Please click here for more details (insert clubs link):
Barbara-Ann Greig, T4 F14 workroom or email bgreig@west-lothian.ac.uk
Information on mindfulness is available from Student Support, The Student Association and can also be found on the college notice boards.
MINDFULNESS: RESOURCE LIST
Mindfulness for Students
http://mindfulnessforstudents.co.uk/students/
Headspace
http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/how-to-meditate.aspx
Free mindfulness guided practices
http://www.freemindfulness.org/download
- guided mindfulness exercises
- mindfulness of breath
- body scan
- sitting meditations
- guided imagery
Dharma Seed
Free mindfulness guided practices and talks, this website’s content is based on the Buddhist tradition but it is equally accessible and valuable for anyone who is interested in exploring mindfulness.
Ted Talks
http://www.ted.com/topics/mindfulness
There is lots of amazing stuff on this website! Look in the most popular talks and you’ll also find that mind/mindfulness stuff is there too.
What is Mindfulness?
http://www.mindfulnet.org/page2.htm
Website with lots of information about mindfulness.
Mindfulness playlist
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLerh9hpJs-SXRFBtdnKgqy2CU2C-oD6iR
A collection of video talks about the brain and digitally mindful strategies.
How a mindful approach to computer and smartphone use might just make you happier.
Article about our relationships with these devices and how we use them.
Being mindful in a digital age.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hannah-ross-crane/being-mindful-in-a-digita_b_6063536.html
Article about the benefits of mindfulness and advice for getting started.
The Third Metric.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/third-metric
Online Huffington Post magazine section on digital mindfulness.
Books
Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, Piatkus, 2011.
This book is available in the college library and is the one that many mindfulness courses use.