As a physician and researcher, I skeptically looked forward to learning more about mindfulness practice, because there is evidence it helps with stress management, self-regulation, focus, productivity and happiness. As a mom, I felt that weird mix of guilt that I was going to focus on “not-my-children” for a whole day, excited anticipation and anxiety that maybe I would be a complete failure at this. It turns out all the mental baggage I took into the workshop was the exact opposite of what mindfulness tries to achieve. The daily practice has since changed my life.
![Drawing of a person meditating with doodles of suns and happy faces against a green background](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/tips_mindfulness.jpg?h=5199961b&itok=fNeWYc74)