Mindfulness: An Approach for Learning and for Life

Abstract

Although present for thousands of years in various traditions, the practice of mindfulness has been growing in dedicated ways since Jon Kabat-Zinn introduced his mindfulness-based stress reduction program to students in 1979. The physical, psychological and social benefits of “paying attention in the moment” have been well-documented since then, and benefits for student learning are now being recognized. In the era of "helicopter parenting" and growing competition for the attention of our students (and ourselves), students need to learn how to learn, but also need to learn how to increase focus, improve memory and foster an independent, self-generated ability to lessen anxiety and cope with stress. If we model these skills ourselves and—through dedicated classroom time—feature them as part of university preparation for life and work, we will help students build foundational attributes and skills for the future. In this report I present data from the National College Health Assessment-II (Spring 2013) to give a snapshot of the anxiety self-reported by Canadian students, then describe a two-minute mindfulness activity that I regularly use with first-year students in a university skills course. It is simple to make this activity a regular feature of classroom learning, improving student focus, lessening anxiety, and giving them skills for a challenging future.