The Best Articles in Mindfulness
The most useful articles and videos in Mindfulness from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Mindfulness Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved in Mindfulness by Refind users.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
Mindfulness isn’t the only powerful mental state
This interview is an episode from The Well, our new publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the John Templeton Foundation.Subscr...
How to reduce stress with the 2:1 breathing technique
Debbie Lyn Toomey, RN, BSN, CIPP explains how to reduce stress with the 2:1 breathing technique. For more stress reducing tips and to learn more about Debbie...
There are 5 kinds of clutter — which one is filling your life?
Overwhelm. That word doesn’t feel very pleasant hanging there, does it? It brings up feelings of failure and isolation. I’m a professional organizer, and it’s the word that I hear the most from new…
«if you keep making decisions and don’t postpone them, you’ll ultimately move from overwhelm towards something that all of us want — peace.»
Dan Harris: The benefits of not being a jerk to yourself
After more than two decades as an anchor for ABC News, an on-air panic attack sent Dan Harris's life in a new direction: he became a dedicated meditator and, to some, even a guru. But then an…
Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality
What makes you, you? Psychologists like to talk about our traits, or defined characteristics that make us who we are. But Brian Little is more interested in moments when we transcend those traits.…
What is ...?
New to Mindfulness? These articles make an excellent introduction.
What is Your Ikigai?
Ikigai is really your reason for being, the thing that gives you direction and motivation, and it is at the heart of what we do at Learnlife.
«“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why” - Mark Twain»
What Is Self-Parenting And How It's A Part of Healing
Forget mantras and self-help that do not work. Use these simple self-parenting strategies to make lasting changes in your life.
The Beginner's Guide on How to Improve Your Focus and Concentration.
In today’s digital world filled with non-stop emails, information overload, mobile phone messages and social media notifications, it’s never been harder in human history to stay focused on our goals.…
How to ...?
How to be kinder to yourself
Self-compassion techniques aren’t self-indulgent – they’ll tame your inner critic while helping you change for the better
«So I dedicated 10 minutes to sit down and reflect on the same questions I ask my clients to help them clarify their values. These were my answers:»
How to Make the Most of Your 24 Hours
By Leo Babauta So many of us feel a scarcity of time: we feel rushed, like there’s not enough time to do everything, always behind, never feeling like we’re doing enough. This problem is called “time…
«reflect with gratitude. At the end of each day, take a few moments to reflect back on your day and think about what you’re grateful for.»
How to Let Go of Obsessive Overthinking
By Leo Babauta Sometimes, our heads won’t stop thinking about something. Our thoughts will spin around and around, not willing to let go, obsessing. It might be about another person, a big event…
«Don’t look at the object of your thoughts or the problem you need to solve … but the fear that’s having you want to obsess and overthink»
How to measure meaning in life
Meaningfulness is associated with greater well-being, and scientists have even devised ways to measure meaning in life.
«However, one of the strongest predictors of how meaningful people perceive their lives to be is… Being reminded of valued sources of meaning.»
How to Use All Your Vacation — And Really Unplug
A conversation with psychologist Art Markman and associate professor Kaitlin Woolley on why we need to take breaks more than ever.
«But if you can think about the leisure time as helping you be better at your job, helping you be more creative, helping you build your even interpersonal skills at work because you’ve had time off, and you can come back and reapproach the problems from a different perspective, or even helping you to maintain your interest in your love for your job.»
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds in Mindfulness on Refind.
Persistent Stress: What Every Productive Worker Needs to Know
Most people love a challenge—and the jolt of stress that comes with it. But persistent stress at work? Here's how to eliminate it.
7 Self-Reflection Questions to Create Your Own Happiness This Year
Instead of setting resolutions, I pondered a few questions to help me create my own happiness this year based on what matters most to me.
«6. What are three actions you’ll take to achieve each of these goals?»
Finding Meaning
In different stages of life, we seek different things.
40 Ways to Let Go and Feel Less Pain
Shared by 560, including irene-rubio
«Many times when you’re angry, you focus on what someone else did that was wrong, which essentially gives away your power. When you focus on what you could have done better, you often feel empowered and less bitter.»
Finding your essential self: the ancient philosophy of Zhuangzi explained
Zhuangzi was the gadfly of ancient Chinese philosophy. His paradoxical writings encourage a stance of therapeutic scepticism towards the world.
«or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man»
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles in Mindfulness—all under 10 minutes.
Digital detoxes don’t actually work
A digital detox is a period in which a person voluntarily refrains from using digital devices including smartphones, computers and social media platforms. However, recent research has shown that…
«The internet has made it possible to talk at length with strangers who share your passion for any subject—make the most of it»
How the Feeling of Pointlessness Can Derail Us
By Leo Babauta Something I’ve noticed that derails a lot of people’s goals or attempts to form habits is the feeling that it’s pointless to even try. If it feels like it won’t matter if you do…
«What would it be like to find meaning in the place that feels pointless?»
10 Ways to Calm Anxious Thoughts and Soothe Your Nervous System
My anxiety consumed my mind with what-if scenarios. Here are the 10 steps that have helped my anxious thoughts and calm my nervous system.
«Give that anxious worrying voice in your head a name. This creates separation between you and the voice. You are not your thoughts.»
The 8 fundamental habits of the calmest people
I had a great childhood, but I was quick to anger and would often throw tantrums. This reactivity manifested as fidgety overthinking and anxiety in later life. It took years for me to see the…
«I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.»
When You're Overwhelmed, Simplify
By Leo Babauta The feeling of being overwhelmed is extremely common in the people I talk to, and it’s becoming more and more clear to me that this is the default state for most of us. We’re…
«The first reason we feel overwhelm is that we often have too many commitments. We’ve taken on more than we have time for, often out of optimism for how much we can do in a day. It’s a lot less than we usually think.»
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles in Mindfulness.
The Top 10 Insights from the “Science of a Meaningful Life” in 2022
Our team names the most provocative and influential findings published during this past year.
«Our findings suggest that simply appreciating one’s experiences can foster a rich sense of meaning and perhaps shore up confidence that life has been and will be worth living,»
Plunge Into Powerful Introspection With These 100 Deep Quotes!
As we go through each day, there are many ups and downs. We have moments where everything is just chugging along perfectly and other times where there are
«"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude." – Oprah Winfrey»
Personal Growth | Marina Benjamin
‘Refusal is the last recourse of the powerless.’ Marina Benjamin on her years of not eating, and not growing.
Against the Trap of Efficiency: Mortality, Meaning, and the Antidote to the Time-Anxiety That Syphons the Joy…
“Productivity is a trap. Becoming more efficient just makes you more rushed, and trying to clear the decks simply makes them fill up again faster… Since finitude defines our lives… livi…
«Annie Dillard captured this sentiment best in her haunting observation that “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives”»
Carolyn Chen: “Buddhism has found a new institutional home in the West: the corporation.”
Silicon Valley is the latest player in a history of Western appropriation of Buddhism
Thought Leaders
We monitor hundreds of thought leaders, influencers, and newsletters in Mindfulness, including:
Joshua Becker
Inspiring people to own less and live more at Becoming Minimalist. Founder of @TheHopeEffect. New book: Things That Matter: http://amzn.to/3CnseuR
Mark Manson
3x #1 NYTimes bestselling author. Best known for F-Bombs and uncomfortable truths. Giving life advice that doesn't suck since 2008.
Leo Babauta
Creator of Zen Habits. Training in uncertainty. Zen student, vegan, dad, husband.

Marie Forleo
#1 NY Times Bestselling author of #EverythingisFigureoutable. CEO. Dancer. Host of #MarieTV & #TheMarieForleoPodcast.
Tiny Buddha
Get Tiny Buddha’s Inner Strength Journal: Creative Prompts & Challenges to Help You Get Through Anything: http://bit.ly/3amsm5Q
Publications
We monitor hundreds of publications, blogs, newsletters, and news sources in Mindfulness, including:
Tiny Buddha
Get Tiny Buddha’s Inner Strength Journal: Creative Prompts & Challenges to Help You Get Through Anything: http://bit.ly/3amsm5Q
Leo Babauta
Creator of Zen Habits. Training in uncertainty. Zen student, vegan, dad, husband.
Ness Labs
The learning community for ambitious knowledge workers. Join us to think better, learn faster, and work happier: http://nesslabs.com/membership 🧠✨
SELF
Wellness you can trust. #TeamSELF
Mindful
The best of mindfulness-based practices. Mindful magazine, events, courses, corporate training, licensed content, business media, directories, and partnerships.
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We monitor hundreds of sources in Mindfulness, including Tiny Buddha, Leo Babauta, Ness Labs, SELF, Mindful, and many more.
Who are the thought leaders in Mindfulness?
We follow dozens of thought leaders in Mindfulness, including Joshua Becker, Mark Manson, Leo Babauta, Marie Forleo, Tiny Buddha.
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