Mindfulness and Meditation Aren’t the Same—Here’s Exactly What Sets Them Apart

Both meditation and mindfulness have gained popularity in recent years as powerful tools for reducing stress and improving mental health. While these terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between mindfulness vs. meditation. Each practice has unique characteristics and benefits to help you feel more grounded and relaxed in everyday life.

But what exactly sets them apart? We asked our experts to lay down the differences in their origins, techniques, and potential health benefits.

The differences and similarities between mindfulness vs. meditation

Mindfulness and meditation share the common goals of reducing stress and cultivating awareness, calm, and clarity, says Millie Huckabee, LCPC, a licensed professional counselor and founder and CEO of Sage Therapy. But their methods and applications differ in significant ways.

According to Huckabee, “Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your full attention to the present moment, while noticing your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judging them.” This practice involves just focusing on the right now. Plus, it’s accessible. You can be mindful at several different points of the day, whether you’re eating, working, walking, or doing something else entirely.

“Meditation, on the other hand, is a dedicated, more structured practice where you set aside time to focus your mind, often using techniques that help cultivate mindfulness, relaxation, or other positive mental states,” says Huckabee. This might include visualization techniques, deep breathing, body scan meditations, or a plethora of other meditative exercises.

Despite their differences, they have one important thing in common: they take practice. “Remember when practicing mindfulness and/or meditation that it’s a muscle you build up,” says Huckabee. “It’s okay if you can’t sit down and be perfectly ‘in the moment’ the first time you try.” Like any other skill, these grounding practices take some time to master—so be patient with yourself as you get started on this journey.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware in each moment. This means observing what you’re doing, thinking, and feeling right now—without judgment.

“Mindfulness has its roots in ancient Buddhist practices, where it was a core part of the path to enlightenment,” says Huckabee. “It emphasized staying fully aware of the present moment; observing thoughts and emotions without attachment,” she adds. In more recent history, though, mindfulness has been secularized and integrated into Western psychology.

An April 2023 study in BJPsych Bulletin¹ noted the modern mindfulness movement can be largely attributed to Jon Kabat-Zinn, who developed mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy in the late 1970s to help people manage pain and stress. Since then, it’s become a regular technique to manage the symptoms of various mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, and in certain situations, physical health concerns such as chronic pain.

How to practice mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is all about bringing your full attention to whatever you’re doing, says Huckabee. Her advice? “Start by choosing an everyday activity, like eating or walking, and fully focus on the experience. For example, noticing tastes, smells, and sensations [while eating], or the feeling of your feet on the ground [while walking],” she says.

“You can also practice mindfulness by setting aside a few minutes to focus on your breathing, gently bringing your mind back whenever it wanders, without judgment.” Some other ways you can incorporate mindfulness in your everyday life include the following, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Slowly scan your body from your head to your toes, noticing the sensations you’re feeling in each body part.
• Take a few moments to notice the rhythm and sensation of your breath.
• Focus on the tastes, textures, and smells of the food you eat.

What is meditation?

If mindfulness is a technique you can use at any time, in any situation, think of meditation as its more formal cousin that helps train your mind, according to Huckabee.

“Meditation is a structured practice where you intentionally focus your mind to achieve a state of calm, clarity, and inner peace,” says Huckabee. “Think of it as a workout for your mind, helping you build focus, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of well-being.” Like mindfulness, meditation also originates from ancient spiritual traditions in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

Because of its proven health benefits, many healthcare providers have begun recommending meditation to patients to help them decrease stress and anxiety levels, slow their heart rate, and energize their bodies, per a July 2015 study in An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda.

How to practice meditation

There are many types of meditation. But generally, meditation involves concentrating on something in particular (think: your breath, a mantra, or a sensation).

Before you start, Huckabee recommends finding a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down with your eyes closed. Then turn your attention to the focus of the meditation. “When your mind wanders (and it will!), just notice it, and calmly guide your attention back, repeating this process for a few minutes to start, gradually increasing the time as you get more comfortable,” says Huckabee.

And just because it’s a more formal practice doesn’t mean it has to take much time. Micro-meditations are a great place to start, with some as short as one minute. Here are a few techniques to get you started:

• Alternate nostril breathing: Pinch your nose shut with your thumb and pointer finger. Press your right nostril shut and inhale through your left, then press your left nostril shut and exhale through your right. Repeat this pattern for as long as you like.
• Resonant breathing: Breathe in a rhythm where you exhale for longer than you inhale (for example, inhale for four seconds, then exhale for six).
• Repeating a mantra: Pick your favorite affirmation (or create your own!). Repeat it to yourself in your head or out loud as you breathe deeply.

Want more ideas? Try a meditation app like Calm (7-day free trial; $69.99 per year) or Headspace ($12.99 per month; $34.99 per year) to access guided meditations.

Health benefits of mindfulness and meditation

Both mindfulness and meditation share a wide array of health benefits. These include:

1. Reducing stress, depression, and anxiety

Mindfulness helps you ground yourself in the present, taking the focus off of past or future events that could cause distress, per the NIH.

Similarly, meditation has been linked to changes in brain structure and function, both of which can decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to a July 2020 study in General Psychiatry².

2. Lowering blood pressure

According to a March 2021 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health⁷³, mindfulness-based meditation stress-reduction programs are linked to decreased blood pressure, which can support overall heart health and lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and stroke.

3. Enhancing sleep

If you’ve considered trying meditation for sleep, it’s not a bad idea. Meditation has been linked to the ability to fall asleep faster and enhanced sleep quality, according to UC Davis Health.

Mindfulness has also been associated with improved sleep. A May 2020 study in Sleep Health⁴ found that people who trained in mindfulness-based stress-reduction techniques also experienced better sleep quality.

4. Boosting focus and memory

Practicing mindfulness and meditation regularly can improve your ability to focus on your internal thoughts and sensations. And this applies to other areas of life, as well. According to Harvard Health, mindfulness can increase focus and concentration in your everyday life, while also helping you retain important information.

5. Minimizing chronic pain

Mindfulness and meditation practices have been linked to reduced short- and long-term chronic pain, per a July 2022 review in Neurosurgery Clinics of North America⁵. If you live with a condition that cause frequent bouts of discomfort, adding mindfulness or meditation to your treatment regimen may be worth the try.

6. Bettering emotional regulation

A study in Current Opinion in Psychology ⁶linked mindfulness to increased emotional recovery, more positive emotional responses, and less avoidant behavior (though the researchers note that more studies are needed to further establish this connection).

However, another study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that mindfulness meditation techniques are linked to better emotional balance, awareness, and acceptance, along with less emotional exhaustion.

7. Increasing self-awareness

Spending time focusing on your emotions and physical sensations through mindfulness and meditation can deepen your physical and mental awareness, which can contribute to an overall stronger sense of self, according to Huckabee.

8. Improving relationships

Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help you become a more present person overall. Spending more time in the now and being aware of what’s going in right in front of you is a good way to deepen empathy and strengthen your relationships, says Huckabee.

The bottom line

While meditation and mindfulness have their differences, one thing is clear: either (or both!) of these practices boasts several potential health benefits. If you’re looking to add a low-lift, high-reward practice to your self-care routine, look no further. While we know that any new habit takes a second (okay, maybe more than a second) to master, starting now can help you reach a variety of benefits down the line.