Even if you have never tried it, you have likely heard of mindfulness. Often attached to meditation, being mindful is all about focusing on the present rather than dwelling on the past or future.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of mindfulness but don’t know where to start, if you feel like you don’t have time for meditation, or if you feel intimidated by these self-care practices, minute mindfulness is a great place to start.

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a simple concept but one that many people overlook. Modern life is busy and action-focused. We are all encouraged to think ahead to the next task. As humans, we also have a tendency to dwell on the past and not be aware of the present.

Mindfulness is the opposite. It is the act of giving your full awareness to the present moment. It means focusing on what you sense, feel, and think in the moment and without judgment.

Is Mindfulness a Meditation Practice?

Meditation is a practice that is often mindful, but mindfulness is more of a quality. You are mindful whenever you focus on the moment and don’t dwell on the past or future. Some people are generally more mindful than others, but you can become more mindful with meditation practice.

Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind. Mindfulness meditation is just one type. During a mindfulness meditation, you focus your mind on the present. If your mind wanders to other thoughts, you bring it back to the current moment.

The way you meditate can take many forms, including mindfulness. Being mindful can also take many forms, not just meditation.

For example, walking outside and noticing the sounds, sights, and smells is a type of mindful practice. Another example is eating mindfully, noticing all the sensations of food rather than getting distracted by your phone or TV.

What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness Practice?

Daily meditation practice or mindfulness is beneficial in many ways. It's one of those healthy habits that has been around since ancient times but that researchers have just begun to study. So far, they have found many benefits:

• Mindfulness builds resilience and helps people overcome difficulties like trauma.
• Being more mindful reduces stress and creates a calmer state of mind.
• Mindfulness, according to some studies, might be as good for managing depression as antidepressants.
• Mindfulness helps you focus, which improves attention, concentration, decision-making, and memory.
• Regular mindfulness practice can even boost physical health. It correlates with improved immunity. Mindful eating can help combat obesity and supports weight loss.
• Mindful practice helps people sleep better.
• People who practice mindfulness have a stronger sense of self, greater self-esteem, and a more positive body image.
• Young people benefit from mindfulness practice too. It reduces depression and stress and increases self-compassion.

About Mindfulness in a Minute

Minute mindfulness just means being mindful for a short period of time. This can mean being casually mindful for a minute at a time or using a minute guided meditation with more structure.

Why Do a One-Minute Meditation?

There are a lot of good reasons to restrict your mindfulness or meditation to just one minute. The most obvious benefit of a short practice is that it saves you time.

Not having enough time is a common barrier to meditation and similar practices. Instead of using it as an excuse, try short bursts of mindfulness.

Another good reason to try these short exercises is to ease into the practice. The idea of meditating or actively practicing mindfulness can be intimidating. If you feel like you don’t know where to start, this is it.

Is One Minute of Mindfulness Worthwhile?

Yes, even short periods of being mindful bring benefits. Even with just one breath, you can increase your quality of mindfulness. Of course, the more time you can devote to a dedicated practice, the more beneficial it would be.

In a perfect world, you have all the time you need for important self-care activities. In reality, you might only have a minute, and that is better than nothing.

Make the Most of Short, Mindful Moments

Minute meditations aren’t just for busy days and packed schedules. They are also great opportunities to be more mindful throughout your day, no matter what else is happening around you. Find quiet moments of downtime to use your mindful minutes. Here are some ideas:

• When you wake up in the morning, instead of turning immediately to your phone, do a mini meditation.
• Just before you go to bed is another great time to practice some quick mindfulness. It is more beneficial to your sleep than scrolling through your phone one more time.
• Do a walking meditation whenever you're on the go.
• The next time you feel frustrated because you have to stand in a line when you could be doing something else, spend it mindfully.
• Your daily shower is a great time to reflect or to be mindful of the moment.
• Use mindfulness minutes on breaks at work to relieve some stress or prepare for a meeting or presentation.
• Any time throughout your day when you feel like you could use a minute to gather yourself, try a minute meditation.

Make mindfulness part of your everyday routine with these short moments.

Mindfulness Exercises When You’re Short on Time

Being mindful for a minute can be as simple as noticing what’s around you. Pay attention to your five senses and take in everything you can smell, see, hear, or feel. Here are some other ideas for quick exercises you can do any time you have one minute to spare.

Just Breathe

Another simple way to be mindful for a minute is to sit and be still while giving awareness to your breathing. Follow each breath as it goes in and out, and notice how your body feels. Try to relax tension from your body on each exhale.

Box Breathing

If you struggle to stay focused on your breath, try a simple exercise with some structure. Inhale while counting to four and picture the top side of a box. Exhale for a four-count as you wander down the side of the box. Inhale again to a count of four at the bottom of the box, and exhale as you work your way up the other side.

Body Scan

Pay attention to your body for a minute. Start at your head or toes and focus on each part of your body and notice how they feel.

Mindful Eating

Eating mindfully all of the time has great benefits, but you can start with just a minute. Turn off distractions and really pay attention to the food as you eat it. Focus on how it feels, tastes, and smells.

Doorway Reset

When you encounter a door or a similar transition, use it as a quick reset. Focus on how you feel and where your thoughts are on one side, and then pass through and notice any changes in the new space.

Walking Mindfulness

Wherever you are if you will be walking for a minute, use it as a chance to pay attention to your surroundings and how you feel in them. You could be walking through a park, noticing birds, or just walking across a parking lot noticing a parked car. Both work.

Short Mindfulness Meditations from BetterSleep

When you’re ready for more structured mindfulness, try a guided meditation. BetterSleep’s meditation library includes several short options that focus on mindfulness. None of these are as quick as one-minute meditations, but they are short. When you have 10 to 15 minutes to devote, try these guided meditations:

• Mindfulness Meditation for Sleep. This 15-minute guided session will bring your mind to the present moment and prepare you for a good night of sleep.
• The Mindful Breath. Focusing on breathing is a very simple way to be more mindful. This short meditation will help you practice it.
• Retreat in the Hear and Now. Try this meditation to learn how you can be more present throughout your day, not just while doing a formal meditation.
• Mindfulness of the Heart. If you need to cultivate more kindness for yourself and others, use this guided meditation.

Find calm and peace as you dive into mindfulness practice. It doesn't have to take a lot of your time. The important thing is to do it regularly and whenever you can.