Mindfulness vs. Meditation: What’s the Difference?

Many people tend to use the words "mindfulness" and "meditation" interchangeably, but they are slightly different, and understanding the difference can make them much easier to use in everyday life. 

Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is going on in the current moment, including your thoughts, surroundings, and feelings, but not necessarily judging them in a negative or positive way. Essentially, it is simply noticing what is going on. If you are eating, but are actually noticing the taste and texture of the food, rather than looking at your phone, then you are being mindful. If you are getting stressed during a test, but are noticing your breathing, then you are being mindful.

Meditation, on the other hand, is an action, something you do on purpose in an effort to improve your mind. Meditation can include quiet contemplation, focusing on breathing, etc., but in most cases, meditation utilizes the technique of mindfulness, which is why the two are so similar. One way to look at this is to think of meditation as a means to an end, and mindfulness as the end itself. Meditation helps you cultivate your ability to be present, and mindfulness is what this ability looks like in your everyday life. However, it is not necessary to meditate in order to be mindful. You can be mindful at any time, whether you are walking to class, studying, or even talking to someone.

One other difference between meditation and mindfulness is that, while meditation tends to follow a more formal structure, such as setting aside a period of time and focusing on one thing, mindfulness does not have such a formal structure and can be incorporated even into your most packed schedule. This, in turn, makes it especially attractive to a student, as it does not feel like one more thing to do in your day, but rather like a way to incorporate what you are already doing into your mindfulness.

In conclusion, mindfulness and meditation are meant to be used together, and they are meant to be used together from the start. You do not have to begin with anything complex, and even a few moments of mindfulness during your day can begin to make a difference, and eventually, those few moments can begin to accumulate.