The relentless 24/7 news cycle and daily stresses can overwhelm anyone. In recognition of Mindfulness Day on Friday 12 September, an RMIT expert shares the importance of mindfulness and how this practice can help you experience periods of calm.
Dr Kathryn Daley, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
"Mindfulness refers to being aware in your present moment. This can be internally like emotions and thoughts, or externally via your senses - how your body feels, what you can smell, what you can see.
"Mindfulness is not aimed at making people 'happy' but making us conscious, observant and curious about what we are experiencing at any point in time. It sounds very simple but can be very challenging, particularly in times of feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
"A common mindfulness strategy is breathwork. Taking longer, deeper, slower breaths - ideally through the nose - has a calming effect on our nervous system.
"You might be in peak hour traffic and feeling your frustration rise and simply trying to inhale deeply through the nose to fill the belly up with air, slowly exhale through the nose and repeat, will calm your central nervous system.
"Mindfulness can't cure our problems but as individuals becoming more mindful and grounded offers us an opportunity to enjoy more periods of calm despite the problems that exist in our lives."
Dr Kathryn Daley is Associate Director of Social Equity Research Centre and a senior lecturer at RMIT. Her work is focused on improving the wellbeing of people living on the margins, particularly children and young people.
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