Guided Mindfulness Meditation

Introduction to Mindfulness

When should I listen?

The entire program is 6 days and there is a recording to listen to each day. All the recordings are labeled — for example, Day 1 is 3 days before your procedure and Day 6 is 2 days after your procedure.

When setting aside time to listen, try to find a quiet space where you're unlikely to be uninterrupted. The recordings range between 5 and 20 minutes, so mornings or evenings before bed often work well.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is about being aware of what's happening right now without judging it. It helps you accept your thoughts, feelings, and what you're sensing.

Why practice Mindfulness if you're having surgery?

Practicing mindfulness can help reduce pain and anxiety. Studies show that mindfulness can lower pain levels, especially for people with chronic pain, back pain, or those recovering from surgery. Mindfulness can also improve your quality of life, help you sleep better, and reduce the need for strong pain medicine.

What should I expect?

You will spend less than 20 minutes each day practicing mindfulness, starting three days before your procedure and continuing until two days after. You might find it helpful at first to try listening at night before you go to bed. Instead of using your prescription pain pill to help you sleep, try mindfulness first. When you're ready, find a quiet place to practice.

You can sit comfortably or lie down — whatever works best for you. Just tap play when you're ready (with headphones or without), and you can repeat the exercises as often as you'd like.

What paperwork will I need to fill out?

You'll get a message from REDcap asking you to fill out surveys. You'll do surveys each day for the two days before surgery, and then twice a day (morning and night) for three days after surgery. Finally, you'll fill out a last survey one week after surgery.

Having trouble? Please contact us at [email protected]