The ideas of Mindfulness are derived from Buddhist and other traditions that promotes awareness. Research has shown that incorporating mindfulness into one's life can have a multitude of positive outcomes. These positive outcomes include improving overall health and well-being, It could also play a role in disengaging from negative behaviors and can promote self behavioral regulation. Current research has validated that mindfulness is a reliable characteristic that can positively impact mental health and overall well-being. Further research can be done to enhance and explore the benefits of practicing mindfulness.
Source:
Brown, K., & Ryan, R. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822.
With this information in mind, how do you think mindfulness could positively impact your life? If you are already practicing mindfulness, how does it impact your life and what tips can you provide to those that are just getting started?
Monday, July 14, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Best of mindfulness websites
The following resources will be evaluate on a 5 star scale. 1 star is minimal information and usefulness, 3 stars is good and useful information, and 5 stars is the best of the resources that are available. The following will include a variety of sources of information.
1. http://mindfulbalance.org/
This blog is written by a mental health counselor who trains others in mindfulness practice. He offers daily quotes, pictures, and inspiration for living a mindfulness filled life. It is very up to date and easy to navigate with no advertising. He also offers tips to getting started and offers a step by step guide. Definitely worth the time to look over and is great for those new to the practice!
Rating: *****
2.http://www.mindful.org/
This website is designed to celebrate mindfulness in everyday life through the magazine Mindful, a community of mindful people, and social media. It gives information on how mindfulness can be applied in all aspects of life--work, home, love, relationships, body, and mind. It is easy to navigate with tabs at the top to direct users. It is also up to date and really only advertises the magazine. Offers by far the most amount of resources that I have found.
Rating: *****
3. http://www.everyday-mindfulness.org/
This website has multiple authors that hope to promote mindfulness in everyday practice. It is up to date and easy to navigate, even offers other resources that are helpful. There is no advertising, however the writers do look for monetary support on every page, which is not necessary in meeting their purpose. Is not as visually pleasing as other resources.
Rating: ****
4. http://www.mindfulnet.org/index.htm
This website was created by a strategic learning specialist who wanted to create a space to promote mindfulness and to share best practices. It is user friendly, but is not visually appealing and tends to be a lot of text on the screen. There is no advertising, but it does ask for donations and promotes it's own conference. It does provide up to date information, which includes books, videos, mp3s, and mobile apps about mindfulness. These resources offer unique and different applications of mindfulness.
Rating:****
5 http://mindfulness-exchange.com/home/
The mindfulness exchange was established as a spin-off from the Oxford Mindfulness Center, and is based on the book "Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World." by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. The site does offer free guides for mindfulness practice as well as articles about the application of mindfulness. However, these articles and guides could be more abundant and up to date. Easy to navigate, but does not provide much new information.
Rating:***
6. http://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-mindfulness
WebMD offers an introduction to mindfulness and what it can do for individuals. One unique feature of this website is that the reader can listen to the article instead of reading it. It is easy to navigate, but is very busy with lots going on. It does offer the reader some good tips for mindfulness and the different applications of the practice. Advertising can be distracting as well.
Rating: ***
7. http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/mindfulness.htm
This website offers information on a wide variety of health topics that are ad-free. It gives a good overview of mindfulness practices, techniques, tips for practice, and benefits. This particular part of the website is based on a special report from Harvard. It is easy to navigate and offers key points on all health topics. Doesn't offer other resources or provide a wide variety of opinions, however.
Rating: ***
8.http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/
This website is run by two men who are directors of mindfulness based programs. It offers counseling and coaching in mindfulness practices. It also offers articles, videos, poetry, and links about mindfulness. Something unique is the free workbook that it offers to those who want to work through mindfulness practices. It is user friendly and up to date.
Rating: ***
9.http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/general-med/wellness/the-mindfulness-center
Gives a nice overview of mindfulness and the programs that UVA has to offer. It also addresses the benefits of mindfulness and has two well done videos that introduce the topic. It was last modified over a year ago, so could use some updating. The website does have a nice list of resources, including free tools.
Rating: ***
10. http://www.bemindful.org/
Written by an individual psychotherapist and life coach. A plethora of resources, up to date articles about mindfulness, and the application of mindfulness are all provided. The website is not very visually pleasing, but is pretty easy to use. The author does not give a lot of background or information about mindfulness, more about the individual's life and what he can offer. The website is ad free and contact information is provided.
Rating: **
1. http://mindfulbalance.org/
This blog is written by a mental health counselor who trains others in mindfulness practice. He offers daily quotes, pictures, and inspiration for living a mindfulness filled life. It is very up to date and easy to navigate with no advertising. He also offers tips to getting started and offers a step by step guide. Definitely worth the time to look over and is great for those new to the practice!
Rating: *****
2.http://www.mindful.org/
This website is designed to celebrate mindfulness in everyday life through the magazine Mindful, a community of mindful people, and social media. It gives information on how mindfulness can be applied in all aspects of life--work, home, love, relationships, body, and mind. It is easy to navigate with tabs at the top to direct users. It is also up to date and really only advertises the magazine. Offers by far the most amount of resources that I have found.
Rating: *****
3. http://www.everyday-mindfulness.org/
This website has multiple authors that hope to promote mindfulness in everyday practice. It is up to date and easy to navigate, even offers other resources that are helpful. There is no advertising, however the writers do look for monetary support on every page, which is not necessary in meeting their purpose. Is not as visually pleasing as other resources.
Rating: ****
4. http://www.mindfulnet.org/index.htm
This website was created by a strategic learning specialist who wanted to create a space to promote mindfulness and to share best practices. It is user friendly, but is not visually appealing and tends to be a lot of text on the screen. There is no advertising, but it does ask for donations and promotes it's own conference. It does provide up to date information, which includes books, videos, mp3s, and mobile apps about mindfulness. These resources offer unique and different applications of mindfulness.
Rating:****
5 http://mindfulness-exchange.com/home/
The mindfulness exchange was established as a spin-off from the Oxford Mindfulness Center, and is based on the book "Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World." by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. The site does offer free guides for mindfulness practice as well as articles about the application of mindfulness. However, these articles and guides could be more abundant and up to date. Easy to navigate, but does not provide much new information.
Rating:***
6. http://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-mindfulness
WebMD offers an introduction to mindfulness and what it can do for individuals. One unique feature of this website is that the reader can listen to the article instead of reading it. It is easy to navigate, but is very busy with lots going on. It does offer the reader some good tips for mindfulness and the different applications of the practice. Advertising can be distracting as well.
Rating: ***
7. http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/mindfulness.htm
This website offers information on a wide variety of health topics that are ad-free. It gives a good overview of mindfulness practices, techniques, tips for practice, and benefits. This particular part of the website is based on a special report from Harvard. It is easy to navigate and offers key points on all health topics. Doesn't offer other resources or provide a wide variety of opinions, however.
Rating: ***
8.http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/
This website is run by two men who are directors of mindfulness based programs. It offers counseling and coaching in mindfulness practices. It also offers articles, videos, poetry, and links about mindfulness. Something unique is the free workbook that it offers to those who want to work through mindfulness practices. It is user friendly and up to date.
Rating: ***
9.http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/general-med/wellness/the-mindfulness-center
Gives a nice overview of mindfulness and the programs that UVA has to offer. It also addresses the benefits of mindfulness and has two well done videos that introduce the topic. It was last modified over a year ago, so could use some updating. The website does have a nice list of resources, including free tools.
Rating: ***
10. http://www.bemindful.org/
Written by an individual psychotherapist and life coach. A plethora of resources, up to date articles about mindfulness, and the application of mindfulness are all provided. The website is not very visually pleasing, but is pretty easy to use. The author does not give a lot of background or information about mindfulness, more about the individual's life and what he can offer. The website is ad free and contact information is provided.
Rating: **
Mindfulness
If there is one thing that I have learned about nurses, it is that we do not take care of ourselves. We are constantly caring for others--not only patients, but our own family members and friends--that we often don't stop to think about what we are doing to care for our own self. With this in mind, I would like to highlight the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness can not only be applied to nurses, but to everyone and most every facet of life. So if you have ever been stressed or anxious, then continue reading for a practice that could help decrease stress in your day-to-day life.
Psychology today defines mindfulness as, " a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience" (2014). (source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulness)
The following article describes mindfulness today and how it is impacting the United States currently. It is important to recognize that the practice has everyday use and is being widely applied. It helps to decrease stress and anxiety and promote awareness in the individual (Socolovsky, 2014). (source: http://www.voanews.com/content/mindful-movement-becomes-revolution-as-stressed-americans-look-for-relief/1956071.html)
The purpose of my next few posts will be to review the internet for the best sources surrounding mindfulness practices.
Psychology today defines mindfulness as, " a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience" (2014). (source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulness)
The following article describes mindfulness today and how it is impacting the United States currently. It is important to recognize that the practice has everyday use and is being widely applied. It helps to decrease stress and anxiety and promote awareness in the individual (Socolovsky, 2014). (source: http://www.voanews.com/content/mindful-movement-becomes-revolution-as-stressed-americans-look-for-relief/1956071.html)
The purpose of my next few posts will be to review the internet for the best sources surrounding mindfulness practices.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Purpose
The purpose of this blog will be to post lesson's that I have learned from nursing and want to share with everyone. It is my hope to pass along this knowledge and to create discussion around some topics that I have learned from. I have learned in my profession that one sentence can change how someone looks at the world around them, and that it can positively or negatively influence someone. So, at the end of every blog post I will challenge you to do something--it might involve stepping out of your comfort zone, reflecting on yourself, doing something adventurous, or even just being aware.
On my drive home today, I was listening to the radio and a local radio personality was discussing how her dog greets her when she gets home. The dog acts as though she has been gone forever, regardless of how long that it actually has been, and the dog wants to give love and attention and support to the owner. Coincidentally, I am dog-sitting this week so I came home to three dogs that greeted me that way!
The radio host challenged her listeners to greet their family members as the dog greets the owner upon arrival. Why not treat your family as though you are just seeing them for the first time after a long trip? Why not greet them with love and support and give them your undivided attention? This is how nurses should treat their patients, and certainly how we should treat those that we care for around us. Imagine how it would make your loved ones feel if you did this for a week instead of being wrapped up in your own world when they arrive home. Imagine how it would make YOU feel if your loved one greeted you like this for a day, a week, or even a month. So I challenge you to greet the people in your life as though you have not seen them for a while--your patients, your family, your friends, your co-workers...and see the response that you get and how it makes you feel.
On my drive home today, I was listening to the radio and a local radio personality was discussing how her dog greets her when she gets home. The dog acts as though she has been gone forever, regardless of how long that it actually has been, and the dog wants to give love and attention and support to the owner. Coincidentally, I am dog-sitting this week so I came home to three dogs that greeted me that way!
The radio host challenged her listeners to greet their family members as the dog greets the owner upon arrival. Why not treat your family as though you are just seeing them for the first time after a long trip? Why not greet them with love and support and give them your undivided attention? This is how nurses should treat their patients, and certainly how we should treat those that we care for around us. Imagine how it would make your loved ones feel if you did this for a week instead of being wrapped up in your own world when they arrive home. Imagine how it would make YOU feel if your loved one greeted you like this for a day, a week, or even a month. So I challenge you to greet the people in your life as though you have not seen them for a while--your patients, your family, your friends, your co-workers...and see the response that you get and how it makes you feel.
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