Mindfulness
...at the Conference
For those of you attending the Conference, come and join Adele Winkley each morning from 8.15-8.45 in Queen Suite 2 and learn about the theory of Mindfulness and how you can incorporate elements of it into your daily routine. You can learn more about Adele beforehand by visiting her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/adele-winkley/
If you are unable to attend Adele's sessions but would like to learn more about Mindfulness, you can find more information via the Mind charity's website at www.mind.org.uk.
...at IATEFL Head Office
Over the last few weeks, IATEFL have been looking at mindfulness and sharing some ways via our social media that our head office team have championed their own mindfulness; as learning and sharing is of course what IATEFL do best!
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. When we’re mindful, we reduce stress, enhance performance, gain insight and awareness through observing our own mind, and increase our attention to others’ well-being. There are lots of benefits to mindfulness and it gives us a time in our lives when we can suspend judgement and unleash our natural curiosity about the workings of the mind, approaching our experience with warmth and kindness to ourselves and others around us.
We asked some of our head office team how they practise Mindfulness...
Sarah our Conference Programme Coordinator says “I take time away from the business of everyday life, I put my phone down and remove distractions and find a quiet peaceful place to allow myself to connect with how I am feeling and be present. Walking, especially more challenging walks help me to connect with being present, when I have conquered a big hill and get to see the wonderful view at the top, I can reflect that with any challenges I may come across reminding myself of the sense of gratification and gratitude”.
In our Finance team Linda adds that “observing the beauty around me in unexpected places and the life force energy of nature, listening to bird song and having sound baths also help me reconnect me to how I am feeling and remove the ‘noise’ of the daily modern world”.
Freya, our Membership Officer said, “By walking and reading, I can lose myself to a good book. In the winter I get creative with some arts and crafts as it allows me to focus on something external and forget anything stressful”.