Speeding along an open road on my motorcycle, flanked by the great outdoors, the engine hums and the noise in my mind disappears. Riding a motorcycle demands total presence. Focus isn’t optional. It’s a matter of survival. After all, a wandering mind could lead to disaster.
But it’s not fear or panic that sharpens my attention. It is something else entirely. As a clinical psychologist, I understand fear well. I know how danger activates the fight-or-flight response. And yet, paradoxically, it is on my motorcycle that I feel most calm. This is where I experience the greatest joy. It is where I find what I would describe as a state of mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, on purpose and without judgment. In psychological therapy, it is usually cultivated through meditation. People are encouraged to sit quietly, focus on the breath and observe thoughts and sensations as they arise.
Mindfulness is not an “in the moment” technique to reduce immediate distress. It is a skill developed through regular practice. Research shows that it activates brain areas involved in emotional regulation and focused attention. Studies also suggest mindfulness can improve emotional health, reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and help people respond to difficult situations more thoughtfully rather than reacting on impulse.
Mindfulness can be practised in many ways. Some approaches rely on stillness, such as body scans and breathing exercises. Others involve movement, including yoga, tai chi and walking meditation. What unites them is deliberate attention to the here and now.
Because mindfulness is accessible, cheap and relatively easy to learn, it has spread far beyond therapy rooms. It now appears everywhere, from healthcare settings to social media reels and YouTube tutorials promising calm in minutes. This popularity is not necessarily a problem. But mindfulness is not without its limits.
Mindfulness is not a cure for serious mental illness. It cannot resolve structural problems such as poverty, trauma or unsafe environments. For some people, particularly those with a history of trauma or certain mental health conditions, sitting still with their thoughts can be distressing. Mindfulness practices can sometimes intensify intrusive or triggering thoughts rather than soothe them.
As with all types of psychological therapy, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. That is why it is worth broadening how we think about attention, emotional regulation and mental wellbeing.
Attention under pressure
Motorcycling offers one such alternative. It’s a mentally and physically demanding activity. The bike itself is heavy and a rider needs strength and balance, particularly when riding at slow speeds and when stopping. Core muscles are engaged when manoeuvring and all limbs are engaged in braking, clutch control and gear changes.
Mentally, the demands are even greater. Riders must remain continuously alert to road conditions, traffic, weather and the unpredictable actions of other road users. Decisions often need to be made in seconds, like when to brake, when to accelerate, how to navigate a bend, how to respond to an unexpected hazard. All of this takes place knowing that the rider’s protection is limited to their clothing.
These demands may explain why riding a motorbike can feel so absorbing. Research supports this. A study exploring the mental and physical effects of motorcycling showed improvements in focused attention, sensory awareness and the ability to ignore distractions.
Riders become better at scanning their environment and predicting what might happen next. This is a skill known as “situational awareness”. Many riders also report these benefits in their own accounts of riding motorbikes.
Perhaps most strikingly, despite motorcycling being a high-risk activity, research found reductions in stress hormones while riding. The proposed explanation is that the intense concentration required leaves little room for ruminating on everyday worries. Attention is fully captured by the task at hand.
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Rethinking mindfulness
Unlike traditional mindfulness practice, motorcycling does not require deliberate non-judgment of thoughts or sensations. There is no effort to observe the mind. The activity itself does the work. Similar effects have been observed in other high-demand pursuits, such as rock climbing and athletic performance.
Clinically, this matters. While traditional mindfulness practices may not be suitable or achievable for everyone, there are alternatives. Activities which demand full engagement – mentally and physically – may offer similar psychological benefits. Purposeful, absorbing activities can help regulate emotions, sharpen attention and reduce stress over time.
For some people, stillness is not the route to being present. Sometimes, mindfulness is found not by slowing down, but by moving – fully, deliberately and with purpose.
Judith Roberts does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
