If someone asked you to identify the No. 1 tool you use to do your job, would you focus on the physical? A computer or a software program, maybe even your vehicle. However, we often forget that our brain is our biggest resource and the top piece of equipment in our arsenal.

While we install anti-virus programs to protect our computers and take our vehicles in for regular maintenance, we routinely skip the opportunity to invest in ourselves and practice the self-care needed to keep our bodies running in optimal condition.

The concept of mindfulness – which is defined as “the process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment” – is nothing new, though more and more people are realizing the power of the practice in both their personal and professional lives.

Mindfulness can help us work more efficiently under pressure, alleviate stress and increase concentration. It can boost productivity, improve our sleep and reduce anxiety and pain. It forces us to be present.

Former Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe knows a lot about mindfulness, having run a private meditation practice and created a full digital health platform to teach guided meditation.

“… Meditation offers the opportunity, the potential to step back and to get a different perspective, to see that things aren’t always as they appear,” said Puddicombe, in a TED Talk.

“We can’t change every little thing that happens to us in life, but we can change the way that we experience it. That’s the potential of meditation, of mindfulness. You don’t have to burn any incense, and you definitely don’t have to sit on the floor.

“All you need to do is to take 10 minutes out a day to step back, to familiarize yourself with the present moment so that you get to experience a greater sense of focus, calm and clarity in your life.”

To learn more about how meditation can boost your mindfulness, watch All it Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes.