Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzz word in recent years. Even a decade ago, it wasn’t something you heard about much, but in 2022 it’s a topic that interests lots of people.
A lot of us have become aware that implementing daily mindfulness techniques or practicing formal mindful meditation can have a serious impact on our well-being.
Mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety, improve physical health, and help us manage difficult emotions.
But sometimes, it almost feels like there’s too much information out there. It can be difficult to know which advice to take, which book to read, or which video to watch.
In this article, we’re going to tackle that problem by recommending some of the best books and podcasts relating to mindfulness. We’ll be discussing:
- What Is Mindfulness?
- Why Should We Learn More About Mindfulness?
- The 5 Best Podcasts About Mindfulness
- The 5 Best Books On Mindfulness
There are tons of resources out there that can help you live a more peaceful, calm, and efficient life. Let’s explore some of the best.
What Is Mindfulness?
Before we introduce you to some super helpful resources to dive into, it’s worth briefly summarising what mindfulness is and how it can help you.
Put simply, mindfulness is about paying close attention to present moment experiences in a non-judgmental, accepting way.
It can involve intense levels of concentration and focus, although some mindful techniques encourage participants to simply notice the breath or tune into their surroundings and observe different sensory phenomena.
Tuning into present moment experiences in this way can have hugely positive effects. It can calm us down in moments of anxiety or anger, and it can enhance our experiences by allowing us to notice the beauty and wonder of the world.
Long-term, mindfulness training can also boost mental well-being, reduce anxiety, decrease heart rate and blood pressure, and make us better at observing and managing our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.For a more detailed guide to the practice, check out our article: What Is Mindfulness?
Why Should We Learn More About Mindfulness?
When we talk about mindfulness, we’re discussing a broad practice encompassing a wide variety of techniques, exercises, traditions, and beliefs.
Different mindful activities suit different people. If you’d enjoy processing your experiences by writing them down, you could try mindfulness journaling. If you prefer physical activities like yoga, a better fit might be mindful movement meditation.
However, if you don’t try to learn more about mindfulness exercises, you might never find out about a technique that’s perfectly suited to you.
Reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching videos about mindfulness is a great way to expand your knowledge and introduce yourself to new ideas that can bring great benefits.
If you’re interested in understanding, calming, and growing your mind, this is the way to go.
Related Article: Best Yoga Books For Babies and Kids
The 5 Best Podcasts About Mindfulness
Okay, it’s time to round up some of the most practical and informative resources relating to this subject. To start off, let’s explore some of the best podcasts on mindfulness.
Taking in a mindfulness podcast is a really handy way of absorbing information in an easy, natural way.
You can listen wherever you like, and you can choose whether or not to complete another task while doing so. The flexibility that a mindfulness podcast offers is what makes it so appealing.
But there are lots to choose from — in no particular order, let’s explore some of the best.
#1. Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
When ABC news anchor Dan Harris had a panic attack live on air, it changed his life and sparked a deep interest in the restorative power of mindfulness meditation.
He’s since written several books which explore meditation in an accessible way, as well as developing a renowned podcast called Ten Percent Happier.
In this mindfulness podcast, he interviews a wide range of interesting figures specializing in attention training, emotional regulation, sex and relationships, the environment, and many other topics.
You can check out the podcast here.
#2. Mindfulness For Beginners
Hosted by teacher, economist, and mental health advocate Shaun Donaghy, Mindfulness For Beginners offers a simple introduction to mindfulness for those who are starting out.
With 30-minute episodes on a variety of techniques and tips for incorporating mindfulness into your daily life, this podcast is a gentle guide to the subject for people who want to find out more. That being said, it doesn’t patronize listeners, and is packed with information.
Find out more on Apple Podcasts.
#3. On Being
American journalist and author Krista Tippett uses her podcast On Being as a platform for discussing some of the core questions relating to how we live our lives.
On Being has been awarded the Peabody Award for great conversation and information, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to learn something new when you listen to this one.
With over 350 million plays and downloads and airing on over 400 public radio stations in the US, this is one of the most popular mindfulness podcasts about.
You can check it out on the On Being website.
#4. The Tara Brach Podcast
Tara Brach is one of the best-known names in Western mindfulness. A meditation teacher and best-selling author, she’s a trusted voice when it comes to teaching people the power of mindful behavior.
Her self-titled podcast features interviews with leading thinkers and discussions on a range of issues including compassion for animals, embodying acceptance, and practicing spirituality in times of upheaval.
You can find out more about Tara Brach’s podcast here.
#5. Untangle
If you want to learn how to untangle your mind and take a step back from the stresses and anxieties that bring you down, look no further.
The Untangle podcast features some of the biggest names in mindfulness and meditation, including psychiatrist and neuroscientist Judson Brewer and sleep doctor Chris Winter.
Have a listen to this game-changing mindfulness podcast here.
The 5 Best Books On Mindfulness
If you’re up for delving a little deeper into the world of mindfulness, there are loads of books that cover the practice in a level of detail that a one-hour podcast never could.
It’s been hard cutting this down to just 5 titles, but we’ve managed it. Here are 5 of the best books on mindfulness for you to check out.
#1. Thich Nhat Hanh – The Miracle Of Mindfulness
Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh was an internationally-renowned author, activist, and meditation teacher.
His text The Miracle Of Mindfulness guides readers through the amazing benefits of engaging in small, everyday tasks in the present moment.
If you’re interested in the everyday applications of mindfulness, this is a great introductory text.
#2. Eckhart Tolle – The Power Of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment
Eckhart Tolle’s clear message about how to live a happier life has made him one of the most popular teachers around when it comes to spirituality and wellness.
The Power Of Now is a guide to living in the moment, packed with useful information and suggestions on the everyday path towards spiritual enlightenment.
#3. Patrizia Collard – The Little Book Of Mindfulness: 10 Minutes A Day To Less Stress, More Peace
A small, simple, highly accessible mindfulness book designed to suit anyone and everyone, Patrizia Collard’s text focuses on cultivating calmness and peace using 5-10 minute daily mindful practices.
You can dip in and out of it, and work out over time which methods work best for you.
#4. Dan Harris – Meditation For Fidgety Sceptics
We’ve already mentioned Dan Harris in this article, recommending his podcast Ten Percent Happier, but it’s impossible to leave him out of our list of the best books on mindfulness.
Meditation For Fidgety Sceptics is probably the pick of the bunch. It focuses on debunking all the myths around meditation and showing that it’s a practice for everyone, beneficial for bankers, broadcasters, salespeople and service workers, not just deeply spiritual hippy types.
Harris’ book also explores the psychology of mindfulness meditation, which is a super interesting subject.
#5. Kristen Neff – Self-Compassion
Last, but by no means least, is Kristen Neff’s Self Compassion. Neff is a professor of psychology with strong links to the world of mindfulness.
This mindfulness book explains why it’s so important to be kind to yourself, exploring how it’s impossible to practice true compassion, empathy, and warmth towards others if you’re not also treating yourself the same way.
Start Living In The Present
There you have it: 10 of the best podcasts and books on mindfulness, meditation, and positive thinking.
Exploring these resources can have a significant impact on your daily life, helping you grow your skills of patience, calmness, and emotional regulation, as well as allowing you to have better relationships with the people around you.
As we’ve discussed, mindfulness is a powerful tool. Hopefully, reading these books and listening to these podcasts can help you grow your knowledge and realize how it can help you.
If you want to find out more about what mindful behavior can do for you, check out our free mindfulness e-book!
