In this mindfulness resource, you’ll find recommendations for mindfulness audiobooks easily accessible for use right now. The term “mindful” literally means to be aware. For example; be mindful of the speed bump in the road. Understanding this, we can deduce that mindfulness has something to do with awareness. The number of resources available such as mindfulness audiobooks, workbooks, YouTube Videos, and reference books available online is mind numbing.
what is Mindfulness?
According to a post on mindful.com, “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.
While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it’s more readily available to us when we practice on a daily basis. Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly experiencing via your senses, or to your state of mind via your thoughts and emotions, you’re being mindful.
And there’s growing research showing that when you train your brain to be mindful, you’re actually remodeling the physical structure of your brain.
This can be done through progressive relaxation exercises, dialectical behavioral therapy, meditation, calming strategies and more.
This workbook (affiliate link) is fantastic for teens and adults to practice and learn mindfulness through dialectical behavioral therapy.
Mindfulness teaches about being in the present, aware of what is really happening around us.
- If you sit still for five minutes, what can you hear around you?
- What can you see?
- Can you sit quietly and just attend to your senses instead of your grocery list?
This is very difficult for many. Imagine monks can do this for hours at a time. Five minutes feels like an eternity to me. Mindfulness is not just about meditating, it is about separating facts from feelings and emotions.
separating facts from feelings
Separating facts from feelings does not mean feelings are not valid. Sometimes our reactions to a situation are not in line with what happened, or we react with emotion instead of common sense.
When a child screams in the grocery store and lies on the floor, learning to separate facts from emotions is a great tool for parents and the screamer.
First, examine the facts.
- Is the screamer bleeding or on fire?
- Did a huge dinosaur just bite his leg off, or did you just say no cookies for the 15th time?
Once it has been determined no one is bleeding or on fire, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. The emotions are valid but perhaps overdone. Teaching the caregiver to take a breath and react based on facts versus emotion, is a great start, hence we are being mindful of what actually happened.
This strategy can then be taught as a strategy to reduce screaming or behavioral responses to emotions.
- Teach the screamer to be aware of what is actually happening.
- No one has had their leg eaten off.
- They are in fact disappointed not to be getting a cookie this trip.
Working on using words and deep breathing can be a valuable tool to thwarting meltdowns, or at least shortening their duration.
great Mindfulness audiobook resources
Amazon affiliate links are included below.
Amazon has some great mindfulness audiobook resources for parents and professionals available on Audible and other formats. Audiobooks (affiliate link) are a great alternative to paper books, as they can be listened to almost anywhere.
There are tons of resources on mindfulness in audiobooks. I tried to find ones that had good reviews, were accurate and easy to read/listen to, and provided useful strategies.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, You’re eligible to claim 2 free titles from our entire selection (one title per month thereafter) with a free Audible 30 day trial. A standard trial includes 1 credit for an audiobook download. After the Audible trial period, (affiliate link) all members receive 1 credit per month.
Click here start your free Audible Trial Period.
Amazon affiliate links are included below.
Practicing Mindfulness– Resource for incorporating mindfulness strategies within day to day life, adult resource
Meditations on Mindfulness with Pooh– educate kids on mindfulness strategies with Pooh bear
Self Regulation and Mindfulness for Sensory Processing, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder– Includes mindfulness exercises and worksheets
Positive Ninja, A Children’s Book about Mindfulness. Part of a ninja series– A children’s mindfulness resource on managing negative emotions and big feelings
Calm Ninja, A Children’s Book about Calming Your Anxiety. Part of ninja series– A children’s resource on calming anxiety and worries
The Mindful Dragon, a Dragon Book about Mindfulness. Part of a series– A children’s resource on mindful strategies with a dragon theme
Breathe Like a Bear– A children’s book on deep breathing and other mindful strategies
Think Like a Monk– Great for adults and informing older students, especially mindfulness in teens
the more principle
The current climate with excessive use of electronics and technology has stunted the ability to calm the mind, be still, focus on a singular item, or just sit and rest. Life is filled with “more”.
It is not enough just to watch tv, or drive, or talk on the phone. Now these tasks are often paired with scrolling the phone, eating a meal, shopping online, or a whole host of other distractions. People will call this multi-tasking, but really it is cluttering the mind, and decreasing the ability to be mindful, or calmly focused.
Can you remember a time when you could sit in a waiting room and calmly wait or people watch? Not anymore. It is difficult to sit and wait without a magazine in one hand and a phone in the other. This is not good for anyone, especially the young developing brain.
The OT Toolbox has some great resources on mindfulness including activities, worksheets, and other tools. Mindfulness for Kids is an excellent post full of ideas and resources. Check out The Benefits of Mindfulness on the Toolbox for links to more great articles.
Love audiobooks? Don’t have time to read a book cover to cover? Check out this post on Audiobooks for Occupational Therapists.
Take a step back, teach caregivers to slow down, then pass this skill to young learners. Refrain from so much “multitasking”, and just be.
Victoria Wood, OTR/L is a contributor to The OT Toolbox and has been providing Occupational Therapy treatment in pediatrics for more than 25 years. She has practiced in hospital settings (inpatient, outpatient, NICU, PICU), school systems, and outpatient clinics in several states. She has treated hundreds of children with various sensory processing dysfunction in the areas of behavior, gross/fine motor skills, social skills and self-care. Ms. Wood has also been a featured speaker at seminars, webinars, and school staff development training. She is the author of Seeing your Home and Community with Sensory Eyes.