(taken from press release in The Guardian 13/9/23)
More than 300 British politicians have been trained in mindfulness in the last decade, new estimates have suggested, sparking fresh calls for a meditation room to be installed in parliament.
Some of them describe how mindfulness has had a beneficial effect on their life and work in this short video.
About 120 MPs, including Tracey Crouch, the Conservative former minister and Clive Lewis, of Labour, plus about 180 peers have joined mindfulness course delivered in Westminster.
The new figures have shown that one in 10 MPs serving over the last decade have so far had mindfulness training commissioned through the Parliamentary Health & Wellbeing Service. The scale of its spread at Westminster emerged as the mindfulness all-party parliamentary group backed a report which calls for further resources “to support politicians with either beginning or maintaining their mindfulness practice, including consideration of a specific physical space for politicians to practise”.
Several MPs have spoken out in favour of the impact of mindfulness on their working lives. In the Mindfulness Initiatives report, Mindfulness in Westminster: Reflections from UK Politicians, endorsed by the mindfulness all-party group, Scott Mann, the Conservative MP for North Cornwall, said he felt “more centred” and able to take on the concerns of constituents and local business owners. An unnamed MP said they were no longer “calling out” opponents “on a gratuitous basis”. Crouch said she takes her shoes off in the chamber before giving a speech to “mindfully feel the ground beneath her feet and help anchor herself to improve performance”.
Tim Loughton, the former MP and co-chair of the all-party group prior to the last election said mindfulness helps politicians “disagree better” and become better colleagues “in a highly divisive and stressful environment”. He said if he is debating someone else from the mindfulness class “the level of debate actually improves”.
Mindfulness meditation can be seen as a form of attention training and Crouch said she was able to end meetings faster because “instead of me saying ‘I’m sorry I don’t understand that point’ ie ‘I wasn’t listening’, I’m fully focused.”
Lewis, the Labour MP, said the quality of acceptance emphasised in mindfulness practice helped him be more forgiving when something like a TV interview did not go to plan.
“It helps me to draw a line under something and move on to the next thing, with fewer self-critical thoughts sabotaging my future performance,” he said.
Drawing on reflections given by around 20 politicians during in-depth interviews, as well as comments made elsewhere, this report is the first attempt globally to set out accounts from politicians on the personal and interpersonal benefits of their mindfulness training.
Trainers’ top tips to start your work day:
- Make time in the morning for mindfulness practice such as meditation, a walk or a slow cup of tea. Make a conscious transition to the start of your working day.
- Create a focused environment by turning off alerts, plan when to look at emails and messages, when to reply and who to include.
- Check your posture and take a deep breath before checking or sending emails or making a phone call.
- Take time to prioritise the day, keep an uncluttered workspace and block out time for deeper work.
- Listen in meetings and conversations. Notice people’s expression, emotion and posture. Notice your reaction in body and mind. Accept both, free of judgment.
- Eat and drink away from your desk, savour the flavours rather than thinking about your to-do list.
- Stretch and take a five-minute walk between meetings. Even if it is the same route, open your senses and let go of thinking.
- Counter human negativity bias by noticing three things you appreciate each day.
- Set aside 10 minutes between meetings or at lunch to practise a mindfulness of breath and body meditation. You can get started using guided audio.
Download the report here: