In today’s fast paced world, most of us think we don’t have 10 minutes to spare – but what if we told you that today you will touch your phone more than 150 times? And there’s a good chance you will spend more than two hours on social media?
To coincide with the launch of Mental Health Awareness Month this October, Smiling Mind is launching Find 10 Minutes and wants you to get this time back and start investing precious minutes into your own mental wellbeing.
Smiling Mind CEO and clinical psychologist Dr Addie Wootten said Find 10 Minutes aims to show all Australians it’s much easier than most people would imagine finding time in their day to look after their mental health; all you need is 10 minutes.
“Our free Smiling Mind app has programs for everyone, from children aged just seven years old to adults, as well as programs aimed at the classroom, the workplace and athletes in training,” said Dr Wootten.
“Studies have shown time and again that cultivating a regular mindfulness meditation practice – we suggest daily – can have amazing effects on a person’s mental wellbeing.
“Brain imaging has even shown that meditation can change the brain and reduce our stress response.”
Australians had a total 8,784 hours available to them last year. Research by Roy Morgan estimated that 93 per cent of us spent 1,023 hours (43 days) – or 11 per cent of the year – watching television, while 94 per cent spent a huge 1,068 hours (44 days) online.
Smiling Mind Ambassador and child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said the importance of both children and their parents finding 10 minutes in their day – away from work and their busy lives – could not be understated.
“Australian families rank as one of the worst in the world when it comes to work-life balance,” said Dr Carr-Gregg.
“According to new research that analysed OECD and World Bank Data, we’re at the bottom compared to other nations and we’re not finding the balance.
“We work on weekends, we bring work home with us, we sit in front of the TV with our laptops and eat dinner staring into screens.
“If you don’t have the right (work life) balance – or you’re unable to simply find and bank 10 minutes in your day – the effects can be devastating for families, it can put enormous stress on relationships and cause an unhealthy home.”
If you’re considering Finding 10 Minutes this October, these are some of the things you might miss if you switch off for a meditation:
- The latest YouTube video of a cat riding a Roomba;
- What your second cousin’s best friend had for breakfast on Instagram; and
- Who Sophie Monk favours most as her true love on The Bachelorette
These are some of the benefits of using those extra 10 minutes to practice a meditation:
The campaign officially kicks-off on World Mental Health Day (October 10) in which Smiling Mind is encouraging all Australians to Find 10 Minutes for meditation at home, at work.
To help Smiling Mind on this mission, they’re asking Australians to donate just $10 to find new ways to build healthy minds. Funds raised will go towards the Society for Mental Health Research to support preventive mental health research and new technology to help Smiling Mind continue to bring mindfulness to everyone.
Smiling Mind is a 100% not-for-profit organisation, which aims to equip generations of Australians with the mindfulness tools they need to thrive in our modern world.
Where will you Find 10 Minutes this October? For more information visit smilingmind.com.au.
