mindfulness techniques for anxiety

Learn mindfulness techniques for anxiety

ByDr. Cheryl Mathews

As a manager and executive in high-pressure jobs, I've had to learn to cultivate calm and well-being. And by "cultivate" I mean planting a seed and nurturing it over time. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes daily cultivation and nurturing.

A few years ago I decided to learn mindfulness techniques for anxiety and well-being. I bought a bunch of books and CD programs. These are my favorites. I still use many of the techniques that I learned in these books.

If you're interested in brain-meditation research, click here 

Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn

mindfulness for beginners

What I liked:

  • check
    This is a comprehensive program for learning meditation and mindfulness.
  • check
    You can't get better than Jon Kabat-Zinn. As the founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, he is a foremost expert in meditation and mindfulness.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

the power of now

What I liked:

  • check
    This is an incredibly powerful book. It's not just about meditation, but an entirely new outlook on life.
  • check
    Meditation is basically all about staying in the present. The Power of Now explains why this is so important.

Meditation in a New York Minute: Super Calm for the Super Busy by Mark Thornton

What I liked:

  • check
    The exercises were simple and easy to incorporate into my day. As with any exercise routine, the simpler you keep it, the more likely you'll do it.
  • check
    Good information on breathing. I learned to breathe deep into my belly instead of breathing higher up in my chest.

What I didn't like:

  • check
    This was one of the first books I listened to. As a beginner, I was expecting an overview of meditation, and was disappointed that the author didn't provide one. I realized later that this book was designed for readers who have a good basic understanding of meditation. Once you learn about meditation from the other books on this page, come back to this CD later for short, excellent exercises you can use every day.

What mindfulness techniques for anxiety do you recommend? What's worked for you? Please comment below.

Leave a Reply