b'| SELF-CARE GUIDEWhat is Mindfulness?How Can it Benefit Healthcare Workers?By Krystina Ostermeyer RN, BSN, CDCESY ou may have heard the word mindfulness talked about a lotthe following statistics.lately. 1. Mindfulness has been around for years; in fact, the oldest written A buzzword, perhaps, but mindfulness is so much moremeditation dates to 5000 BC.than a word that will soon go into obscurity. 2. Though mindfulness techniques are attributed to a variety of Healthcare workers are notoriously busy, stressed, and may take littlereligions and practices, it may have its roots in Buddhism. time for themselves, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 66% of Buddhists in the United States meditate If you have a hard time slowing down and relaxing, you shouldat least weekly.consider a mindfulness practice. 3. In a study of women who meditate, 94% found meditation to be helpful.WHAT IS MINDFULNESS? 4. Most people meditate to improve their health; research indicates According to HelpGuide.org, mindfulness is defined as the prac- that 76.2% of people who meditate began their practice to improve tice of purposely focusing your attention on the present momentandsome aspect of their health.accepting it without judgment. 5.Finallythe mindfulness app Calm generates over $1.9 million annually.If that sounds like a lot of work, you might need mindfulness in your life!Mindfulness may work because it allows us to accept the present, asHOW CAN MINDFULNESS BENEFIT HEALTHCARE WORKERS?well as the pastincluding painful experiences.It may be effective inResearchers believe that the benefits are multifaceted.Though a sense accepting these experiences instead of avoiding them. of calm can be experienced, it is so much more than that!Benefits include MINDFULNESS BY THE NUMBERS Improvements in physical health.People who practice mindful-ISTOCKIf mindfulness does not seem like it is for you, perhaps you should considerness may experience lower blood pressure, a reduction in chronic www.elitecme.com |2021| SELF-CARE GUIDE 17'