Generally speaking, mindfulness can help and even increase your effectiveness. Whereas a lack of it is defined by acting without any conscious thought, or acting as if on autopilot. A major symptom of mindlessness is simply not paying attention or engaging with your work, tasks, or responsibilities.

Mindfulness is the awareness and presence in each of these. While it is not practical or even reasonable to continuously and meticulously think and analyze each action, it is important to practice mindfulness because it can decrease or even alleviate stress, as it engages the rational part of your mind which is known to commonly calm one down. It can also lead to improved academic success due to lowered anxiety, emotion regulation, and the ability to focus effectively at the task at hand.

Two skills define a mindful person: focused and aware.

Mindful people are commonly able to focus on what they're doing at the moment while being aware and conscious of unnecessary distractions as they arise.

It's important to understand that actively trying to practice mindfulness will be a process. Just like learning any skill - physical or mental - it involves a lot of dedication and practice. It is common for it to feel quite robotic, or even unnatural, to think about every motion Like any process, the outcome will take place very slowly. However, once it is achieved, it will become like second nature and can be done without thought.

An effective first step is to avoid multitasking, as that only increases the amounts of distraction. Another easy step to starting the process is to practice active listening, and watching how that can impact the relationship that has with one's peers. Being fully aware of one's surroundings is a productive way to practice mindfulness. This means taking out headphones and putting your phone down.

Being mindless, or on autopilot commonly occurs when life tends to be routine. As a result, change up your routine! Take a different way home, cook a new recipe - or add new, fresh ingredients to your comfort food, or dedicate a day of the week to try a new show, different from what you normally watch.

No matter what your day is like, find a practice that can make you feel present and refreshed. Most people choose to meditate at times like this, but it can be as simple as drawing, cooking, reading, or applying makeup.

Lastly, breathing is key to achieving mindfulness. When stressed, it is important to sit upright and take three deep breaths. Additionally, taking one minute out of your day to focus on your breathing can help get you into the practice of being mindful.