This spring, Adventure Education is piloting a new course called Mindfulness: How to Do Better at Everything (aka AE 290). Mindfulness, simply put, is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally (thanks to Jon Kabat Zinn for this definition). Widely proven to be beneficial in our relationships and work, research also shows how mindfulness decreases stress, improves contentment, leads to better emotional intelligence, and basically helps us be better at everything.
Being mindful in today’s world requires a complex combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. While there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to mindfulness there are practices to support us across diverse landscapes. In this new course, students are exploring what mindfulness is and how to foster it in their lives.
Being mindful is simple but not easy to accomplish. There will be plenty of practice in class and in students’ daily routines. Like working out to develop strength, participants will try a variety of meditation techniques to develop mindful awareness. Using scientific studies and research, students will develop an understanding of how exactly meditation supports their lives and hones their awareness. The class will also try to unplug from screens and see what life is like without the constant pings of digital distraction.
In pursuit of this last idea, students will be partnering up, creating a plan, and trying to take a more intentional approach to how they wander the digital landscape. Our gizmos go everywhere we go and clearly are an important part of our lives, there’s no point in hating on tech, but reevaluating our relationship to devices is a healthy task. While a true digital detox means completely untethering from screens, we’ll gracefully acknowledge that we’re not quite there just yet and instead, we’ll take an inventory of where we truly need technological tools and where we can choose to do something more analog.
With studies showing how overuse of technology can lead to lack of focus, increased stress levels and burnout, the value of this endeavor seems clear. For anyone interested in putting down the mobile device and picking up something more interesting, let’s consider how to approach the digital detox. Like kicking any habit, this is not easy, so where to begin and what’s the point?
- Start Small: Rather than setting out for a wild weekend without technology, try one small hour of unplugged time each day. Chances are your efforts will not only inspire more time offline, but alternative pursuits will become routine.
- Hack the Habit: Science on habits shows that when triggered, we perform an action in expectation of a reward. Knowing this cycle means recognizing our digital habits and understanding how to derail them. For instance, work ends, you surf the web to relax, and feel released from the day. Instead, work ends, go for a walk, and leave the day behind.
- Do Something Else: Aristotle’s observation that natura horror vacui, “nature abhors a vacuum,” is important advice when ditching technology. Without devices, we’ll have hours to fill (one study says as many as three per day). Before unplugging, consider what you would do with more hours in the day. Then start planning to do those things (because you will have time).
- Be Prepared to Struggle: This could be difficult. Moments of weakness, anxiety and wondering what exactly you’re doing will be part of the process. The good news is that you WILL find immediate benefits, and these WILL increase with practice. If you stumble, no big deal; be kind to yourself and keep the vision. This is especially true if you orient towards things you want to do, as opposed to away from things you don’t want to do. Go towards the light!
Whether or not we’re enrolled in a class about mindfulness, we can all take simple steps to focus our attention intentionally, on the present, and without judgment. If this sounds like something you’d like to try more of, check out the classes offered from the Adventure Education department and contact us for details.
Eli is a Lecturer of Adventure Education at FLC with expertise in mindful leadership, expedition planning and leadership, and tons of experience leading others in finding the personal and interpersonal benefits of exploring wild spaces.