Being a teacher is no doubt fulfilling, but one can't take away the fact that it's a difficult job. With long hours spent dealing with students with different quirks, it's no wonder that many tend to get burned out.However, a recent study featured on Huffington Post says that that mindulness may be a way to counter stress.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison asked 18 educators to undergo a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course, which focused on mindfulness techniques including paying attention to one's breathing, thoughts, emotions, and other sensations. After the course, the participants were asked to continue doing the techniques every day at home for 15 minutes.

The results revealed that teachers who did mindfulness strategies "experienced less stress and more self-compassion" than those who didn't undergo the course. In fact, those who didn't practice mindfulness tended to feel more stressed and burnt out by the end of the school year.

The good news is that teachers aren't the only ones who may benefit from mindfulness techniques. Whatever career you may have and whether or not you are constantly exposed to high levels of stress, focusing on yourself for a few minutes a day may help you find your center.

(Photo by nasal ekram via Flickr Creative Commons)