Mindfulness: 'I was just more chilled afterwards'

The practice of mindfulness is part-meditation, part cognitive brain therapy. Dr Laura Marshall-Andrews from the Health and Wellbeing Centre in Brighton recommends practising it for 10 minutes a day. As David explains below, he was keen to learn more about mindfulness and how it would benefit him.

David's reflections

One of the recommendations from Tuesday I was really interested in was mindfulness and I really wanted to have a go at that. I feel really bad but I've only found five minutes to sit quietly in a meditative place. I didn't even manage to download the app that was recommended – I just haven't had the space or the time! That's not great, is it?

By the time I'd found a moment to download it the battery on my phone had gone. So instead I just closed the door to my office, closed my eyes and did nothing for five minutes – it wasn't hard at all, it was wonderful. Except that I was slightly worried I might fall asleep ... I didn't close my eyes too tightly. And I could definitely feel an effect. I was just more chilled afterwards, for a while anyway.

How have I done with the other recommendations? I ran a 5km yesterday, so I'll try to do another one tomorrow. Oh hang on, I've got a 9am meeting. So Thursday, maybe. I have managed to drink lots of water and I'm very pleased with that. I definitely feel more hydrated. I've managed to have regular mealtimes too. I had porridge for breakfast, and that was a really good start to the day, and then had lunch at the proper time.

I don't think dinner will be at the right time. It's 6.30pm now and I've still got a couple of meetings, so we're probably talking 10pm. But two out of three is pretty good, to be honest. I took the kids to school today, which was good. I make sure I find time to do that regularly. In fact, my staff programme it into my diary. I think this is making me think more about these issues.

It's really good to be self-aware. I like the state of being self-aware, it's interesting when you start to look at your own habits. I've had friends and family getting in touch about the challenge. One friend, a lawyer, rang me up and was laughing and picking my brains about what he should be doing.

My wife is much more aware about this stuff than I am, so she is absolutely delighted I'm doing this!

Five ways to try mindfulness

1. Download a 10-minute guided mindful exercise here.

2. The Practicing Mindfulness website begins by talking about relaxation techniques before moving on to some mindfulness exercises.

3. In 2011 the Guardian ran a series of mindfulness podcasts from Headspace.

4. Scientists are intrigued about the possibilities of mindfulness as a treatment for depression. In a series of podcasts, professor Mark Williams and Dr Daniel Penman discuss its potential, and walk through some guided exercises.

5. Listen to this talk on mindfulness at Google led by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

How does mindfulness feel to you? Has it had an effect on your health and wellbeing? Let us know below the line.

Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here.

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