Mindful Mondays: Best mindfulness tips from Barack Obama

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Written by Trisha Bhullar

Mindfulness is no easy practice, which is why you should learn from the absolute best. That’s why this week, we’ve curated a list of our favourite mindfulness tips from Barack Obama himself.

What’s mindfulness and why does it matter?

Here at Timeqube, we advocate for people to practice mindfulness in everything they do – whether it’s working, exercising or even eating. That’s because mindfulness holds a world of benefits. Besides emotional pros like improving your mood and state of being, mindfulness has tons of physical benefits including lower blood pressure and better overall health.

Why should I take mindfulness tips from leaders like Barack Obama?

Mindfulness, just like any other skill, is difficult to master. It’s even more difficult for leaders, who have plenty to manage on their plate. Leaders often experience higher stress arising from their larger load of responsibility. This translates to leaders being tenser and finding it difficult to calm their thoughts. As such, the best leaders out there often have the best mindfulness tips.

Barack Obama’s mindfulness tips

As an ex-American President, Barack Obama has had his share of responsibility and stress. Yet, he’s managed to preserve a calm, put-together front. That’s all because of mindfulness.

#1 Humour is a part of life

If you’ve watched Barack Obama’s speeches in the past, you’ll know that humour is very important to him. It’s not just a way of expressing himself – it also helps him tide through stressful situations. While most of us imagine mindfulness to be complicated, abstract practices, sometimes it’s the small things in life. Learning how to laugh at your mistakes, and appreciate moments of happiness are essential to maintaining a calm state of mind.

#2 Reflect daily

No matter how busy your schedule is, you should always find time to reflect. Reflection helps you grow as a person and learn from your mistakes. It also helps you tap on your strengths and replicate your successes. Being mindful is definitely about reflection, about looking inwards and taking note of what you might have once overlooked.

#3 Compartmentalise your stress

What’s the key to living a peaceful, mindful life? It’s all about learning to manage your tasks. Mindfulness encourages awareness and realisation. This includes being honest with yourself about the tasks you’re in charge of managing. Compartmentalise these stress-causing tasks and take things one step at a time.

#4 Take a deep breath

Barack Obama is a huge lover of mindful breathing exercises. As such, he encourages those who feel stressed to just “take a deep breath”. This forces you to calm down, and slow down your thoughts in a stressful situation.

#5 Practice mindfulness daily

No matter how busy you may be, take some time out of your schedule to practise mindfulness every day — whether it’s joining a yoga class or doing meditations on the commute to work. These small bits of effort will go a long way in helping you reach a healthier state of mind. In fact, you should incorporate mindfulness tools in your everyday routine to help you be mindful on-the-go. A Timeqube, for example, is a mindful timer that helps you practice your meditations anytime, anywhere. To learn more about the Timeqube, check out our guide right here.