Mindfulness: Finding Joy Amidst a Pandemic

Happiness is living in the moment. This was discussed in a ‘Get Happy!’ workshop held by NP Youth Academy, introducing mindfulness as a strategy for getting happier.

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The virtual ‘Get Happy!’ programme was held on 18 and 25 June 2021. It was hosted by three lecturers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic - Ms Genny Chia, Mr Aaron Micah Vogt and Mr Chem Tat Yeo. They introduced mindfulness as one of the techniques for managing stress and getting happier.

 

Mindfulness is to keep your mind focused on what is happening in the moment. It makes us happier because we are living in the moment instead of letting our minds wander.

 

“We developed this programme with mindfulness as one of the components because we thought that it’s really useful and we want to help our students, our target audience, manage stress and cope with the current VUCA – volatile state of the world,” said Mr Chem Tat Yeo, a senior lecturer.

 

The meaning of happiness to 19-year-old Marianne Karisha Manimaran, who also attended the event, is when one can recognise and appreciate the good things in life without letting negative events overshadow the positive ones. However, beneath her bubbly personality, the polytechnic student faces issues with home-based learning and coping with stress, making her unhappy as they take a toll on her mental health.

 

“Since I’m a student and being caught up with lots of assignments, I don’t get enough sleep which leads me to have mood swings. Mood swings not only affect my mental health but also the people surrounding me,” Manimaran said.

 

A survey conducted by Sandpiper Communications found that 73% of youths aged 18 to 24 across the Asia Pacific in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore have experienced elevated stress levels due to COVID-19, and 57% say their mental health has worsened. Close to 7 in 10 have experienced an increase in levels of anxiety during the pandemic.

 

Mr Yeo shared other contributors to stress that youths might be facing today – studies, social media, and emotional and social change. He also highlighted that the shift from a secondary school to a polytechnic may bring about stress and anxiety to freshmen since there is a drastic change in their environment and the way they study.

 

According to the latest Singapore Mental Health Study conducted in 2016, 1 in 7 Singaporeans above 18 has experienced anxiety, mood or alcohol-related challenges in their lifetime. In 2010, it was 1 in 8. Youths aged 18 to 34 were the most vulnerable group as 1 in 5 would have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime.

 

Mr Yeo emphasised that mindfulness is about focusing on the present, instead of worrying about the past or being anxious of the future. Practising mindfulness can help de-stress by decluttering your mind and enhancing your sensory experience.

 

He then shared two techniques to develop mindfulness – savouring: focusing and increasing the positive experiences, enhancing our senses for in-the-moment mindfulness; meditation: the action of giving your attention to only one thing, as a way of becoming calm and relaxed. These techniques help to reduce stress and anxiety, increasing concentration and happiness.

 

Mr Aaron Micah Vogt, a visiting lecturer, added that “one of the distinctions between meditation and savouring is that savouring is easier to do in the moment."

 

"It's really focused on the sensory experiences. Meditation is something that’s practised daily but you have to get better at. Just like with any exercise, you need to practice meditation and get better at it to see the long-lasting benefits.”

 

Mr Vogt summarises the effect of mindfulness. “Because you’re not letting a lot of other information cloud your thought processes, it gives you some clarity and also allows you to focus more effectively,” he said.

 

Manimaran acknowledged that practising mindfulness techniques has helped her to manage her stress levels.

 

“I found that practising mindfulness helps me to cope with my stress. I’d rate the effectiveness a 7/10 because I find mindfulness as a great way to calm myself and I’m able to feel the good energy,” Manimaran said.