Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation practices that have been around for thousands of years. It is a way of focusing your attention on the present moment, and taking more notice of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the world around you. With practice, you will start to realise that your thoughts do not control you; they are just events in your brain which can be noticed, acknowledged, and gently moved away from the forefront of your mind. This should hopefully enable you to stop panicking about the big picture, and start focusing on the now! All this can be achieved by spending just a few minutes each day following a series of practices and guided meditations.

If you’re thinking this all sounds a bit wishy-washy, let me try and convince you why mindfulness isn’t to be sniffed at. Scientific studies have shown time and again that students who practice mindfulness regularly are less stressed, have a greater sense of wellbeing, and are able to learn and concentrate better. And the experts agree: in the UK, the NHS has been prescribing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a way of treating stress, anxiety and depression since 2004. Mindfulness also improves your working memory, attention span, mental stamina and resilience.