Pay Attention

Part of the Sound Minds in Sound Bodies campaign is to develop the skill of mindfulness. What does it mean, to be “mindful?” It might mean something different to you, depending on your background or experience. In this context – mental health promotion – it’s taking notice or paying attention to the world around you and the world within you.

“The sun feels warm on my face.”
“The yummy smell of that soup on the stove reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen. I used to love to sit there and watch her cook.”
“My legs are sore after that workout, but I feel so much less stressed now.”

That sounds simple (and maybe silly), but think about all the times you looked down and your plate was clean but you had no idea how your dinner tasted.  Or looked up at 5:00 p.m. and wondered where the day went.  Or realized that you just hung up the phone and couldn’t remember what you and your friend had talked about.

A wandering mind will not lead you to happiness and well-being. According to recent research, people spend almost half their time (47%) thinking about something other than what they are doing. 

(Yes, I’m multi-tasking as I write this.  I’ll stop and come back later when I can pay better attention to it.)

. . .

All that day-dreaming and distraction, according to recent research reported in the Harvard Gazette and Science, can lead to unhappiness. Psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert (both of Harvard University) reported that the “human mind is a wandering mind, and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind.” 

 That’s kind of depressing – we’re naturally disposed to woolgather, but that means we’re naturally disposed to being unhappy?

Their study involved 2,250 people aged 18-88.  According to the study, participants reported their minds wandered away from whatever they were doing nearly half the time.  What they were doing didn’t really matter – their minds drifted to other things 30% (or more) of the time.  The researchers found that people were happiest exercising, having a conversation with someone, and  . . . (yes, it’s what you think).  They were least happy when resting, working or using their home computer. 

So, the fact that you are vegging out on the couch reading this blog means you are probably less happy than you would be if you were at the gym or gabbing with a friend.

According to Matthew Killingsworth, “mind-wandering is an excellent predictor of people’s happiness.” How often our minds leave the present — and where they end up – is a better predictor of happiness than the activity we’re doing.  Which led him and his research partner to conclude that the idea that happiness is “in the moment” – and that being aware and present in the here and now is healthier than always thinking about what’s next or what was – is probably right.

Knowing that, how can we learn to be mindful? For some people, it can be as easy as slowing down, taking a breath, pausing. For others, it’s yoga or meditation. Mary, a participant in the Sound Minds in Sound Bodies campaign, shared that she is using basic yoga to help her boost her awareness of her mind and body, and she’s feeling happier: “I feel totally grounded and have way more energy.”  Just by making time to pay attention each morning (before the day’s distractions kick in.)

The common theme to these mindfulness-building exercises is single-mindedness. Not texting and talking. Not thinking about what’s for dinner while you wolf down your lunch. Not making your list of household repairs while your dad is trying to tell you about his colonoscopy.  (Okay, maybe you get a pass on that last one. . .)

The essential idea is that, by paying attention and noticing what’s happening around you and how you feel inside, you can actually increase your happiness, which boosts your mood and leads to better health.