Mindfulness vs. Savoring: 
How They Differ and Why It Matters

October 27, 2026

Think about the last time you had a meaningful conversation or had a moment of peace after a stressful day. Did you recognize the feeling as it happened and move along with your day, or did you stop to appreciate how good it felt? While the distinction between these two attitude shifts is subtle, it offers a starting point to understanding the difference between mindfulness and savoring.

Scott Glassman, PsyD, licensed psychologist and professor at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, says there’s an easy way to understand the difference between savoring and mindfulness, both of which can apply to everyday life.

According to Glassman, mindfulness is the practice of being fully aware of the present without judging it, which can help prevent negative rumination. “We tend to get wrapped up in something that has happened in the past, which can churn up negative thoughts and feelings,” he said. “Mindfulness helps to interrupt the reactivity to these negative events or feelings.”

Savoring, on the other hand, involves intentionally leaning into positive feelings or experiences to extend and/or deepen the pleasure they bring.

“When we’re in nature and paying attention to the warmth of the sunlight on our shoulders, that is savoring,” he said. “You are magnifying the positive feeling by telling yourself, ‘I feel good and relaxed when I can feel the sun. I’m having thoughts of feeling free.’”

Glassman goes on to say that we can think of the two practices as different sides of the same coin. “Mindfulness allows us to experience the present moment, while savoring helps us to pause and recognize the goodness we are feeling and why we are feeling it.”

Simple, everyday moments offer opportunities to practice mindfulness and savoring, Glassman says. “For example, with mindfulness, we can make an effort to pay attention to our movements and breathing,” he said. “By bringing a kind of curiosity to what breathing is, you can find one of the easiest pathways into strengthening mindfulness practice.”

To practice savoring, he suggests making a list of things you enjoy in life and making more time for them. “Everyday activities like preparing your favorite meal, or getting your nails done, are opportunities to savor the things that bring you pleasure,” Glassman said. “Take the time to appreciate the experience, notice what you enjoy about it, and allow yourself to fully take in those positive feelings. Paying close attention to enjoyment through different sensory pathways can help. Smell, touch, taste, sight, and sound can deepen the experience, allowing you to savor it on multiple levels at once.”

By making mindfulness and savoring part of our daily lives, we can cultivate a greater sense of well-being while becoming more present for the people around us. “When we practice these mindset shifts, we’re able to do more good in our jobs, in our relationships, and in the world, and that's a catalyzing effect.”

You May Also Like:

• Building Confidence in Anatomy Lab: Advice for Medical Students
• Jason Kaplan, DO '13, Named Coordinator for AI Strategy
• How One Mother Found Her Second Act in Medical School