At Mindful, our mission is to share the best insights from mindfulness research, extensive experiences, and essential inquiries. This past year has brought many uncertainties, reinforcing our belief that mindfulness can help us navigate life’s challenges and foster deeper connections with ourselves and others.
The most popular articles of 2024 highlight the diverse and surprising ways mindfulness can enrich our lives—from children’s TV shows and our personal wardrobes to the books we enjoy and the difficult emotions of disconnection, grief, and healing we encounter.
Top Mindfulness Articles of 2024
1. The Whole Child Matters—Understanding Mindfulness in Schools
With rising anxiety levels, equipping young minds with mindfulness skills has never been more crucial. Journalist Leslie Garrett reached out to educators and mindfulness advocates to discover how it benefits students, teachers, and their larger communities.
2. What to Do When You Feel Short on Time
With free time becoming increasingly rare, Dr. Diana Hill delves into the true meaning of free time and emphasizes that our perception of it is influenced more by how we engage with our time rather than how much we have.
3. Mindfulness for Racial Healing
The tragic events following George Floyd’s death in May 2020 continue to influence discussions across the US. Educator Tovi Scruggs-Hussein shares six essential mindfulness practices that can foster deeper connections by addressing fundamental emotional responses tied to racial biases.
Mindfulness for Racial Healing
Mindfulness can lay the groundwork for meaningful discussions, transformative growth, and increased self-awareness surrounding race and racism.
4. Nanalan’: The Viral Show that Teaches Mindfulness
Since 1999, co-creators Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon have introduced concepts like empathy, awareness, and acceptance to children through the show Nanalan’. Learn how this beloved series, while aimed at children, has gained popularity on TikTok and is now impacting audiences of all ages.
5. The Role of Meditation in Health and Healing
Amid unprecedented technological connectivity, reports of depression, anxiety, and loneliness remain on the rise. Research indicates that mindfulness is a powerful, affordable method for managing and potentially enhancing both physical and mental health.
6. Enhancing Mindfulness Beyond Meditation: 8 Skills for Everyday Life
A frequent question about mindfulness is, How does this apply to my real life? Shalini Bahl identifies eight crucial ways that mindfulness practices can positively influence your daily thoughts, interactions, and decisions.
7. The Art of Decluttering: Inside and Out
Letting go of possessions can be challenging. Barry Boyce reflects on how organizing our physical spaces can impart valuable lessons for creating mental clarity and freedom.
Decluttering—Outside and Inside
The process of sorting through and discarding items we no longer use helps highlight everything else we cling to. Barry Boyce reflects on how this can illuminate more compassionate and insightful methods for clearing our minds as well.
8. After the Funeral: When Grief is Part of Daily Life
Grief is an experience shared by all yet often discussed reluctantly. With a blend of compassion and humor, Elaine Smookler reveals her own journey through grief, providing solace and understanding for those navigating the challenging path of loss.
9. Mindful Reading Guide: Contemporary Authors to Deepen Your Practice
We often overlook the role of literature, whether fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, in enhancing our mindfulness practices. Poet Angela Stubbs shares insights from her personal library, guiding readers on how to discover and resonate with mindful themes in their treasured books.
10. Q&A: How Connecting With Our Senses Supports Mental Health and Resilience
In contemporary Western culture, there’s a significant disconnection from our physical selves, impacting our mental, emotional, and physical health. Authors Norman Farb and Zindel Segal discuss their new book Better in Every Sense, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with our senses as a way to overcome difficulties and achieve true healing.
