Mindfulness is a scientifically proven approach to reducing stress, decreasing anxiety, improving focus, and supporting heart health, just to name a few important benefits.

But what many people don’t realize is that living mindfully can enhance our lives in so many other ways. It improves relationships, can boost performance, and can help you feel more engaged at work. It increases resilience and helps you sleep better. It illuminates unconscious bias and strengthens self-control. And it makes you less judgemental and more curious and compassionate—even toward yourself.

It’s not an overstatement to say that mindful living makes you happier.

The science of mindfulness continues to evolve, but there are exciting takeaways after more than four decades of research.

Probably the most well-known benefits of mindfulness are its ability to reduce stress and anxiety.

The mechanism behind this effect involves increases in the part of our brain responsible for executive functions such as decision making, reason, and concentration, and a reduction of activity in the areas responsible for things like fear and stress.

Its support of higher cognitive and emotional functioning makes mindfulness a powerful therapeutic tool. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are two important approaches.

And because stress is associated with poor health outcomes, stress reduction through mindfulness is increasingly recommended for conditions including high-blood pressure, GI problems, and sleep disorders.

Mindfulness may also have positive impact against conditions such as:

• PTSD
• Chronic pain
• Eating disorders
• Anger management
• Depressive relapses
• Weight management
• Low sex drive among women

More than four decades of research have shown that when it comes to mindfulness, every minute makes a difference.

Even if you’re starting with just a few minutes a day, you will begin to experience the benefits of mindful living.

Because each time you bring yourself into calm awareness of the moment, you’re actually changing your brain — activating the areas responsible for executive functions, such as decision-making, reason, and concentration, and calming the areas that react with fear, anxiety, and stress.