If the word \u201cmindfulness\u201d sets your teeth on edge, perhaps that\u2019s a sign you need it. But don\u2019t be too daunted \u2014 mindfulness is less about becoming one with nature on a misty mountaintop and more about being present, according to Pema Sherpa and Brendan Barca, authors of the new book, \u201cThe Daily Buddhist.\u201d
\n<\/p>\n
Pema Sherpa and Brendan Barca, authors of the new book, \u201cThe Daily Buddhist.\u201d
\n\u201cWe get it. Mindfulness has become a buzzword, slapped onto everything from yoga mats to self-help books,\u201d Sherpa told The Post.
\n\u201cBut here\u2019s the thing: it\u2019s not about superficial \u2018good vibes\u2019 or pretending everything\u2019s OK,\u201d she added. \u201cReal mindfulness means paying attention \u2014 to your reactive emotions, destructive thoughts, rising heart rate and attachment to identity \u2014 so you can choose how to show up for yourself and others.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while sitting cross-legged on your bed and closing your eyes might be one iteration of mindfulness \u2014 it can take on many forms that go beyond the clich\u00e9.
\n\u201cMindfulness isn\u2019t just about sitting on a cushion in silence trying to feel peaceful. That\u2019s one way to practice, but it\u2019s not the whole picture,\u201d Sherpa said.
\n\u201cMindfulness is really about paying attention to what\u2019s happening right here, right now \u2014 whether you\u2019re on a packed subway to work, talking to someone you love (or don\u2019t) or doing the laundry. It\u2019s about being present, not zoning out. You don\u2019t have to be calm or have it all together. You just have to notice what\u2019s going on \u2014 in your body, your mind and the world around you. That\u2019s the real practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s world of doomscrolling, multitasking and endless pinging \u2014 practicing mindfulness is arguably more important than ever, and it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re in your bedroom or at the local bodega. \u201cMindfulness interrupts that loop \u2014 bringing us from over there to here. It grounds us in the present and helps us observe our thoughts and emotions without being swept away,\u201d Barca continued. \u201cWhen your brain\u2019s spinning with countless thoughts, take a few deep breaths and really experience it,\u201d Sherpa said. \u201cThat\u2019s it. Don\u2019t try to \u2018zen out,\u2019 but remind yourself: \u2018I\u2019m here.\u2019 This grounding practice can take less than a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Get out of your head and onto your feet. For many of us, truly listening to someone is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced \u2014 but it\u2019s worth it. If your workday is full of back-to-back Zooms and a symphony of Slack pings, try to resist the urge to multitask. \u201cWhen tension hits, don\u2019t override it with distraction,\u201d he said. \u201cFeel it for a moment \u2014 the tight jaw, racing heart, whatever it is. That\u2019s how you allow stress to move through you instead of letting it pile up within.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClose out your computer with intention. Know that you\u2019re shifting spaces \u2014 from productivity to presence,\u201d Barca said. \u201cThat mental switch helps you show up for your life, not just your inbox.\u201d \u201cWithout mindfulness, we can let anger hurt someone we love, allow shame to spiral into self-loathing or push ourselves too hard at work when we desperately need rest,\u201d Sherpa said. Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help you become more present, focused, and calm in your daily life. By incorporating the six micro-practices outlined above, you can start to experience the benefits of mindfulness for yourself. Remember, mindfulness is not just about achieving a state of inner peace, but about being present and fully engaged in your life.<\/p>\n Q: What is mindfulness? Introduction to Mindfulness If the word \u201cmindfulness\u201d sets your teeth on edge, perhaps that\u2019s a sign you need it. But don\u2019t be too daunted \u2014 mindfulness is less about becoming one with nature on a misty mountaintop and more about being present, according to Pema Sherpa and Brendan Barca, authors of the new book, \u201cThe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":18231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18230","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-wellness"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2025%2F05%2Fsmiling-young-indian-man-sitting-105415471.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall&w=1920&resize=1920,1280&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18230"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18230"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18232,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18230\/revisions\/18232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u201cThe mind loves to wander \u2014 it races ahead and gets stuck in the past. It spins stories, replays old conversations and imagines worst-case scenarios. No wonder we always feel stressed. The mental loop of worry and regret doesn\u2019t just wear us out \u2014 it pulls us away from the only moment that\u2019s real: this one,\u201d Barca told The Post.
\n\u201cMindfulness isn\u2019t just about sitting on a cushion in silence trying to feel peaceful. That\u2019s one way to practice, but it\u2019s not the whole picture,\u201d Sherpa said. Svetlana Khutornaia \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/p>\nMicro-Practices for Mindfulness<\/h2>\n
\n\u201cThis simple shift makes a powerful difference: we feel less overwhelmed, more focused and better able to respond to life with clarity and calm. Instead of being pulled in a million directions, we\u2019re finally here \u2014 and that changes everything.\u201d
\nHere are six micro-practices you can sneak into your day \u2014 three of them you can totally do at work \u2014 no lotus position required.<\/p>\nTake a Deep Breath<\/h3>\n
Walk with Intention<\/h3>\n
\n\u201cOn the sidewalk, in the hallway, heading to the subway \u2014 ditch the phone and feel your steps,\u201d she said. \u201cJust for a minute. Let your mind catch up to your body, even if everything around you is rushing.\u201d
\nAs the late Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh once said, \u201cWalk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.\u201d<\/p>\nListen Well<\/h3>\n
\n\u201cThe next time someone\u2019s talking to you, don\u2019t check your phone. Don\u2019t daydream. Don\u2019t plan your comeback. Just listen. For a full 30 seconds, with no interruptions. It\u2019s rare, weirdly hard \u2014 and way more powerful than it sounds,\u201d Sherpa said.
\nFor many of us, truly listening to someone is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced \u2014 but it\u2019s worth it. (JLco) Julia Amaral \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/p>\nFinish One Task Before Starting Another<\/h3>\n
\n\u201cWe treat our minds like machines \u2014 task after task, meeting after meeting, no breath, no space,\u201d Barca said. \u201cGive yourself the permission to finish one moment before you start another.\u201d<\/p>\nWork Through the Stress Instead of Numbing It<\/h3>\n
End Your Workday Like a Ritual<\/h3>\n
\nMindfulness is less about becoming one with nature on a misty mountaintop and more about being present. Rido \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/p>\nStill Think Mindfulness Isn\u2019t for You?<\/h2>\n
\nThink of mindfulness as a mental exercise \u2014 one that not only calms you but also helps you behave like your best self.
\n\u201cMindfulness acts as a tether. It helps keep your emotions in check, prevent your thoughts from turning against you, be present for life\u2019s little moments and become the person you aspire to be \u2014 for yourself and the people who matter most,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cIf that sounds like something you need, mindfulness is for you.\u201d <\/p>\nConclusion<\/h2>\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n
\nA: Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, while letting go of distractions and judgments.
\nQ: How can I practice mindfulness in my daily life?
\nA: You can practice mindfulness by incorporating the six micro-practices outlined above, such as taking a deep breath, walking with intention, and listening well.
\nQ: What are the benefits of mindfulness?
\nA: The benefits of mindfulness include reduced stress and anxiety, improved focus and concentration, and increased self-awareness and self-acceptance.
\nQ: Do I need to be a Buddhist to practice mindfulness?
\nA: No, mindfulness is a secular practice that can be applied to anyone’s life, regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs.
\nQ: How long does it take to see the benefits of mindfulness?
\nA: The benefits of mindfulness can be experienced immediately, but consistent practice over time can lead to greater and more lasting benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"