The Mindfulness in Medicine department at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health offers this graphic to help health care professionals integrate mindfulness into the moments of their days.

from: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/mindfulness/

Pause: Stop, take a breath, drop in, notice this moment

Pause in the clinic: This is an opportunity for you to recognize the clutter that accumulates in the mind’s thoughts during a busy clinical day and then drop beneath it to focus on the patient you are about to see in that moment.

Presence: Drop in, being aware of what is happening in the moment, experiencing body sensations, noticing thoughts, feeling emotions. Staying present with and accepting whatever arises just as it is moment by moment without reactivity.

Presence in the clinic: This is your opportunity to be fully present in the moment, non-judgmentally with the individuals you are serving. This allows more authentic understanding of their needs.

Proceed: Using mindful speech and action to respond skillfully, compassionately, and with positive intention to whatever needs attention in this moment.

Proceed in the clinic: After obtaining insight into your patient’s needs during “presence,” it is now time to use this information to create a plan towards health.

For reflection alone or together:

With a partner, make a plan to try the Pause, Presence, Proceed practice one time per day for the next three days.

After three days, take 5 minutes to describe the experience with your partner.

Was it beneficial? If so, how? If not, why?