What Is the Difference Between Mindfulness and Meditation?

Ever felt like your brain’s a browser with 27 tabs open—and you can’t find the one playing music? Yeah, same.

That’s usually the moment people start googling mindfulness or meditation, hoping for a way to calm the chaos.

But here’s the thing: even though these two are often talked about like they’re the same thing, they’re actually pretty different. And knowing how they’re different can totally change the way you approach your mental well-being.

Let’s start with mindfulness. It’s the what. Mindfulness is about being fully tuned into the present moment—whether you’re sipping coffee, folding laundry, or sitting in traffic.

It’s noticing your thoughts, your body, your breath, and everything around you, without trying to change it or judge it.

You’re just there. Fully awake in the moment instead of replaying yesterday or fast-forwarding to tomorrow.

Meditation, on the other hand, is the how. It’s more of a dedicated practice.

It usually involves setting aside a specific time to sit still, focus your mind, and intentionally guide your attention—often to your breath, a mantra, or a sound. Meditation can help build your mindfulness muscle, but it’s not the only way to be mindful.

You can absolutely be mindful without meditating, and you can definitely meditate in a way that’s not super mindful (hello, zoning out).

Think of mindfulness as a way of being, and meditation as something you do.

 Mindfulness is like a lifestyle; meditation is like going to the gym for your brain. You can carry mindfulness with you all day, while meditation is usually something you set aside time for.

Here’s where it gets interesting: mindfulness and meditation often team up. Many meditation techniques are built around mindfulness—like focusing on your breath, your body, or a simple word or phrase.

But not all meditations are mindful. Some are about visualization, or repeating affirmations, or even just resting your mind completely. It really depends on your goal.

If you’re new to this whole world, you don’t have to choose one over the other. Start with something simple. Take a moment during your day to just pause and notice. That’s mindfulness.

Or try sitting quietly for five minutes, focusing on your breath—that’s meditation. There’s no right or wrong way to start, just the willingness to show up.

So next time your mind feels like it’s running a marathon before breakfast, remember: mindfulness and meditation aren’t twins, but they do make a pretty powerful pair. And you don’t need incense, fancy cushions, or a perfect routine to get started—you just need you.

Tiana Joelle