The importance of mindfulness
MINDFULNESS is the process of bringing our attention to the present moment, being fully aware of what we are doing and what is happening around us.
Mindfulness is beneficial to any given environment. The integration of mindfulness in our daily lives can see reduced levels of stress and anxiety, increased focus and productivity, less emotional reactivity, self-awareness, emotional awareness, reduced risk of depression, more compassion and empathy, among others.
Mindfulness can be cultivated through mind and body practices such as meditation.
Over time with training, our minds rewire to focus on things that matter as mindfulness training has proven to reduce the tendency of the mind to wander.
At Sunway International School (SIS), the mindfulness programme is introduced to enable the sharing of tools that can positively impact the overall well-being of students and teachers.
Students will be exposed to strategies that aim to reduce stress, increase focus and positively contribute to their overall well-being.
The end goal of promoting mindfulness in a school environment is to ensure that students can cope with stress and anxiety as well as improve their focus and productivity, which will ultimately lead to a positive classroom environment.
Launched in January this year, the pilot mindfulness programmes that are integrated into the class include guided meditations, stress relief activities, mindful eating and various activities that focus on gratitude.
Simple activities such as the guided meditations and mindful eating help students to focus on the task at hand.
We live in an era where the simplest form of distraction can put us on an autopilot mode without really being aware of what we are doing.
Students at SIS are guided through their breathing with practices, which are designed to reduce stress, anxiety and negative emotions.
This leads them to be more focused and sharpens their concentration skills.
Moving forward, the SIS community will take mindfulness to a whole new level by introducing “technology fasts” or phone-free days.
As much as technology has made life better in many ways, it has also caused our attention to sway, which will in time make us less present as human beings.
The healing of our mind can be done through various activities such as art, music and meditation but becoming more conscious of our use of technology has proven to be the most effective remedy to bring us back to the real world.
The upcoming “technology fast” at SIS will encourage students to be more aware of their habitual tendencies with phones.
Instead of digital social media interaction, students will be reminded of how important it is to have real-world social interaction.
The mindfulness programme is a good addition as it complements the Character Education programme at SIS.
Every year, SIS students will be exposed to the 10 different virtues of the month through various activities organised by students and teachers alike in the hope of cementing valuable virtues in students, outside classroom learning.
The mindfulness programme complements the school’s mission of providing a holistic approach to education as it focuses on the development of the student in terms of their achievements, well-being and life-long learning.
Mindfulness programmes are becoming increasingly popular and relevant in schools across the globe as they enhance the educational, social and emotional well-being of students. That is why this programme plays an integral role in shaping a healthy SIS community.
Visit the SIS community on its Open Day on April 22 at the Bandar Sunway and Sunway Iskandar campuses.
For more information, www.sis.sunway.edu.my.