I work full-time and then come home and need to fix dinner and get the kids ready for bed, make lunches for the next day etc. etc. My husband helps but a lot falls on me and I get migraines pretty frequently. How can mindfulness-based stress reduction help me?

Mindfulness can help stay focused on what you are doing in the moment without having your mind jump to the next thing or next ten things on your to-do list, which often is what causes or increases your stress.

You learn to pause, to stop and check into your mind and body as you are going and do some very simple things like breathing, unclenching your jaw or noticing how your mind is jumping into the next chore. This allows you to go through your day more relaxed and more aware including awareness of your priorities.

If your migraines have a stress component to them and you are reducing your stress, learning these practices and strategies can help.

Diane Reibel, PhD
Director, Mindfulness Institute
The Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals