Do you lose yourself scrolling mindlessly on your phone? 

Those pesky ‘algorithms’ on platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok specialise in snagging your attention, clocking your preferences, and pushing endless short-form content you’ll probably like. Before you know it, you’ve lost hours doing little.

Take a moment to explore the nature of the mind and better understand the challenges of focusing on what really matters. 

Watch this short video explainer with Sharon Longridge

Coined by Dr David Levy the author of Mindful Tech, Popcorn Brain is a phenomenon where your brain circuitry is over-stimulated due to excessive time online.

It gets accustomed to the fast-paced digital stream. This brain-popping pattern can make it harder to steady your attention and feel satisfied in the offline ‘slow world’.

Aside from locking away your phone, there is another time-tested antidote. Mindfulness is a brain-training tool that strengthens the cognitive skills of focus, concentration and filtering out unhelpful stimuli (like more YouTube shorts 😉).

Robust research by Amishi Jha’s brain lab at the University of Miami indicates that as little as 12 minutes of mindfulness practice daily can reduce mind-wandering, stabilise attention and improve working memory. Yes, please!

Additionally, the evidence confirms that taking a 10 to 15-minute micro-break after focused work is an effective energy recovery strategy that improves concentration, lowers fatigue, and enhances well-being. 

Impacts of Mindful Leadership 

There are many reasons why Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, and Russell Simmons meditate daily. This ancient practice, supported by robust science, works.

"I've been encouraging leaders to mediate for nearly two decades, citing the immense benefits I've experienced from mindfulness," says Leadium Director, Sharon Longridge. The evidence supporting this simple, brain-changing practice keeps building to my delight.

A recently published paper reviewed 19 studies and identified three core qualities of a leader engaged in mindfulness as a meditation practice.  

It drew on neuropsychology, the science of the relationship between brain function and the mind, to distil the emotional and behavioural changes in leaders who meditate regularly (Doornich & Lynch, 2024).  

The findings are summarised here

Our flagship Elevating Executive Presence program encourages leaders to punctuate their workday with mindful micro-breaks. They harness our Executive Presence Toolkit's 12+ guided mind performance practices. These on-demand mindfulness tools support them in steadying their attention, strengthening self-awareness, and modelling authenticity. 

Try out our Stress Less Practice

Calm down quickly and build mental composure

This breathing practice is a powerful stress management tool that calms the nervous system quickly. It will also improve your ability to stay composed and think clearly, even as the demands increase. Try it now.

Duration: 5:22