Basic meditation, the practice of doing nothing and being tuned in to your own mind at the same time, can be frustrating at first. But research shows it reduces stress and increases focus. Here are some simple steps to get you started. They are adapted from Full Catastrophe Living, 2nd edition, by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School where he founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic.
Learn more about mindfulness, mediation and how finding peace in a stressed-out, digitally dependent culture may just be a matter of thinking differently in Kate Pickert’s cover story, “The Mindful Revolution.” Join TIME for as little as $2.99 to read the full article.
More Tips for Being Mindful:
WEAR A WATCH You’ll avoid picking up your phone to check the time and won’t be needlessly distracted
NO PHONES IN BED Fully wake up before you look at any devices
GET INTO NATURE Take a hike and observe your surroundings. Resist the urge to Instagram them
Join TIME for as little as $2.99 to read Kate Pickert’s story, “The Mindful Revolution.”