Mindfulness has become a global wellness trend for the past few years and with good reason. It benefits people with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and overthinking. It even helps one manage physical health conditions like high blood pressure. According to Positive Psychology, it is the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.
While the practice has proven effective for people all over the world, it can be hard to implement. Here are some simple tips to help you make it a part of your life:
1. Start small.
There are various organic ways to be mindful, such as mindful walking, mindful breathing, and mindful eating. I use the word organic because these activities are unarguably a natural part of everyday life. Therefore, it is easy to integrate mindfulness into these activities. The secret to being consistent is to start small. So when you are walking mindfully, be aware of every step you take, the sights and sounds around you for five minutes. When you are breathing mindfully, focus on your breaths for a short time. And when you are eating mindfully, focus on the taste of your food, and when you are full for one meal a day. The idea is to start small and increase the duration over time. Doing so will help you practice mindfulness regularly.
2. Stay away from trends.
Many people vouch for the benefits of mindful breathing. But just like mediation, it only makes me anxious. What works for me is stretching exercises, so I do them when I am stressed and need to calm down. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to stay away from trends and figure out what works for you. Any activity can be mindful, so choose whatever you want. One of my artistic friends paints mindfully, and she says that it has helped reduce her insomnia. Authenticity is key.
3. Go easy on yourself.
Accept it: there will be days when you will be unable to practice. Be patient with yourself. It is normal to slip up sometimes; we all do. What matters is that you refuse to give up and try again. In the past, I would struggle with motivation on occasion. That changed when I downloaded a free habit tracking app called HabitBull. It’s incredibly satisfying to not break the chain…the “Seinfeld strategy” clearly works. I suggest you try it too. Even if you don’t, go easy on yourself. Forming new habits always takes a good amount of time.
Mindfulness has many benefits. When you practice mindful walking, you will get out of your head and feel more connected with the world. Your stress will decrease, thus regulating your blood pressure. As you learn to focus on your environment, your attention span will improve over time. When you practice mindful breathing, you will feel relaxed as you focus on your breaths instead of negative thoughts. Over time, this will help reduce depression. And when you practice mindful eating, you will eat the right amount of food. Thus, you will ensure good digestion, adequate nutrition, and physical fitness.
Mindfulness will help you live a calmer and happier life. Give it a shot and see for yourself.
