MIND THE GAP
It seems that mindfulness meditation is the only effective way to stop worrying about things, according to research from California. That’s because it’s the antidote to the ‘curse’ of waiting, whether that is for hospital test results or news after a job interview. Waiting feels like torture, so we try to distract ourselves, stay positive or prepare for the worst. But those tactics not only fail to reduce distress, they can make it worse. Mindfulness meditation, on the other hand, stops us focusing on the past (‘I answered that question so badly, I’m sure I didn’t get the job’) or the future (‘What if that mole is cancerous?’) and helps us to manage our expectations. So, next time you’re tensely waiting for news, take 10 minutes to breathe, calm your mind and focus on the now.