Resh Gupta If you’re anxious about work, finances, the state of the world, or anything else, you might try a moment of mindfulness. Paying close attention to the present moment without judgment — the basic idea behind all mindfulness techniques — can help calm anxiety and improve focus, said Resh Gupta, a postdoctoral research associate with the Mindfulness Science & Practice research cluster. “A lot of research has shown that mindfulness can reduce anxiety symptoms,” she said. The calming power of mindfulness is well-known to people who have made the practice a part of their daily lives.