Mindfulness is one of those things I used to overlook.
Not because I didn’t believe in it but because I didn’t fully understand it.
I thought it meant sitting still for long periods, clearing your mind completely, switching off from everything going on around you. And if I’m honest, that didn’t feel realistic for me.
My days are full. My mind is active. There’s always something to think about, something to do, something moving. Whether it’s to do with the inner workings of Team, or the field, or new clients, or home – whatever – there’s always something.
But over time, I’ve realised mindfulness isn’t about stopping everything.
It’s about creating space within it and it starts with awareness.
The biggest shift for me has been becoming more aware of how I’m actually feeling day to day.
Not just powering through. Not just reacting. But checking in.
Am I stressed?
Am I clear?
Am I distracted?
Am I present?
That level of awareness sounds simple but it changes everything.
Because once you notice how you’re feeling, you can actually do something about it.
Without that awareness, you just run on autopilot.
You don’t need hours… you need moments
One of the biggest misconceptions is that mindfulness takes loads of time.
It doesn’t.
For me, it’s small moments throughout the day.
A quiet coffee in the morning before things start.
A walk without my phone.
A few minutes between meetings just to reset.
Nothing complicated. Nothing forced.
Just space.
And those small moments add up.
They give your mind a break from constant input. They allow you to slow things down just enough to think clearly again.
It helps you respond, not react
In business and life, things don’t always go to plan.
Pressure builds.
Problems come up.
People need answers.
Your natural instinct can be to react quickly.
But reacting and responding are very different things.
Mindfulness creates that small gap between something happening… and how you deal with it.
Instead of jumping straight into frustration or stress, you pause. You think. You approach things more calmly.
And that changes outcomes.
Better conversations.
Better decisions.
Better leadership.
All from a few seconds of space.
It works hand in hand with movement
For me, mindfulness doesn’t just happen sitting still.
A lot of it comes through movement.
Training. Running. Cycling. Being outside.
That’s when my head clears the most.
There’s something about moving your body that quietens the noise. You’re not thinking about ten things at once, you’re focused on the moment.
And often, that’s when things make the most sense.
Problems feel smaller.
Ideas become clearer.
Your mind resets naturally.
It keeps things in perspective
When you’re constantly busy, everything can feel urgent.
Every problem feels big.
Every decision feels important.
Mindfulness helps you zoom out.
You start to see what actually matters and what doesn’t.
You stop carrying things you don’t need to carry.
You stop overthinking things that aren’t worth the energy.
And that perspective is powerful.
It’s not about being perfect!!
I’m not someone who sits and meditates for hours every day.
And I don’t think you need to be.
In my opinion, mindfulness isn’t about doing it perfectly, it’s about doing it consistently.
A few minutes here. A reset there.
Being present when it matters.
That’s enough.
The biggest thing mindfulness has given me is clarity.
Clarity in how I think.
Clarity in how I lead.
Clarity in how I show up day to day.
It hasn’t slowed me down, it’s helped me move forward more effectively.
Because when your mind is clear, everything else becomes easier.
Decisions.
Conversations.
Direction.
So if you’re constantly busy, constantly thinking, constantly moving, this is your reminder:
You don’t need to stop everything.
You just need to create a bit of space within it.
Slow things down… even for a moment.
Because sometimes, the fastest way forward is to pause first.
