Simple 10-minute mindfulness trick can provide the equivalent of 44 minutes sleep, says scientists
ARE you feeling exhausted and like you desperately need some shut-eye?
According to scientists, there is a handy 10-minute trick you can do which provides the benefits of 44 minutes of sleep.
The technique is ideal for those who are too busy to settle down for a nap, but want a quick recharge of their batteries.
The trick was published in the Journal of Business Venturing and says you should do “mindfulness practice” for 10 minutes to reap the benefits.
According to healthdirect, “mindfulness is paying full attention to what is going on in you and outside you, moment by moment, and without judging.
“It means you observe your thoughts, feelings, and the sensations of taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. You are also fully aware of your surroundings.”
Mindfulness can be different for each person depending on what clears their head, but can include deep breathing exercises, meditation or a quick walk.
In the study, participants were asked if they practised mindfulness, how much they slept and their exhaustion levels.
The results showed that those who slept the most or engaged in the highest levels of mindfulness had the lowest levels of exhaustion.
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
Mindfulness is knowing what is happening inside and outside ourselves moment by moment, according to Mark Williams, director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre.
Mr Williams says the practice involves reconnecting with sensations.
It also sees us reconnect with our bodies, thoughts and feelings.
It is believed that greater awareness of the present moment will allow people to positively change their view of themselves and their lives.
More formal practices include mindfulness meditation, which involves sitting silently and paying attention to your thoughts, sounds and the sensations of your body.
Many aids to mindfulness have been developed including apps, online tutorials, exercises and even colouring books.
Doing mindfulness exercises was found to be beneficial for those who were low on sleep but not for those who did get the required shut-eye but still felt exhausted.
Charles Murnieks, lead author and professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at Oregon State University said: “You can’t replace sleep with mindfulness exercises, but they might help compensate and provide a degree of relief.
“If you’re feeling stressed and not sleeping, you can compensate with mindfulness exercises to a point.
“But when you’re not low on sleep, mindfulness doesn’t improve those feelings of exhaustion.”
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We shared how sleeping less than six hours a night could increase risk of early death and cancer, study warns.
Meanwhile, a daytime nap once or twice a week slashes the risk of a heart attack or stroke by half, research suggests.