Editorial Commentary: Meditation Results From Mindfulness and Results in Improved Surgical Performance: 10 Minutes per Day, the Apps Are Free, Why Not Try?

Abstract

Meditation is a practice that is thousands of years old and has proponents across the spectrum, from artists to athletes. Meditation is not synonymous with mindfulness but is instead a technique to reach the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness itself can be simply described as the state of bringing one's attention to the present moment. Attaining mindfulness allows a surgeon to maintain focus and avoid allowing outside stimuli to affect performance. Attaining mindfulness does not eliminate feelings of anger or frustration but allows a surgeon to respond to such emotions thoughtfully. Surgeons who respond mindlessly to frustration exhibit poor behavior, worse surgical outcomes, and increased exposure to liability. Today, daily mindfulness is attainable in an efficient manner using modern, application (app)-based technology, and positive effects of mindfulness on surgical and clinical performance have been reported across multiple specialties. Practicing mindfulness daily for 10 minutes, including the day of surgery, could improve performance. Mindfulness matters, the apps are free, so why not try?