So you've heard how amazing and effective mindfulness is, but it sounds intimidating.

Worry not, there are simple and sustainable ways to add mindfulness practices to

your life and reap real benefits. You don't even need a meditation rod.

Welcome back to savvy psychologist. I'm your host Dr Jade Wu. Every week I'll help you meet

life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear and zero judgment.

Today let's talk about how to do mindfulness in your daily life

and how to avoid some of the common stumbling blocks and barriers that get in the way.

So what are you doing right in this moment as you're listening to this podcast?

Are you doing chores like folding laundry?

Are you maybe eating or driving, or are you may be scrolling on your phone playing a game?

If you had to make an estimate, what percentage of your attention are you giving to that task?

Now let's think in general. When was the last time you were 100% focused on the one thing you were doing?

Now you might think that just because driving is the only thing you're doing, you're not talking the phone, not texting, you must be giving

it all of your attention, right? Or maybe at least 90% of it, because we have to allow for a little bit of normal mind

wandering. But ask yourself, what types of trees are there in your neighborhood?

Have you been noticing?

When you fold laundry, what do the sheets smell like?

And don't cheat by saying, like fresh laundry obviously.

When was the last time you truly and fully experience that smell?

Not just with the general sense that it's nice, but with all of your awareness invested in that experience.

That focusing of your awareness is called mindfulness. Last week we talked about what mindfulness can and cannot do.

Practicing mindfulness can improve your well-being and performance, for example.

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