Have you ever heard the expression “mindfulness” and wondered exactly what that means? Here goes:
In a nutshell, it means to be aware and focused on the present, to stay in the moment and acknowledge how that makes you feel. What are your thoughts, how does your body feel and what are the sensations going through your body as you stay rooted in the moment?
Tips to Practice Mindfulness NOW
Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Can you imagine if you were actually able to make your thoughts and focus a priority more than every once in a while? You may be thinking that it’s impossible. That you spend so much time running from activity to activity that you could never take the time to be that focused. But, here’s the thing – you absolutely can. And, the benefits that you’ll experience are countless. So what do you think? If you have the tools to make mindfulness part of your daily life, would you? Let’s take a look at some tips to help you practice mindfulness NOW.
Learn to make meditation a part of your life. You don’t have to jump in with both feet, but rather try meditation in short, digestible moments. Try downloading a meditation app and start by meditating for just 2-3 minutes at a time. Simply take 2-3 minutes each day to simply focus on your breath. Let the quiet fill your soul without the influence of technology for just a few moments each day. You’ll be amazed at how you feel.
Make your diet a mindful part of your life. This may sound sort of funny, but you know the expression, “you are what you eat?” It’s such an honest way of describing what happens when you eat without thinking about what you’re putting into your body. Mindful eating means fueling your body with only good, wholesome foods that leave you feeling great rather than sluggish and weighted down. A great first step is to simply cut back on sugar and processed foods – try making things from scratch where you have to be present and mindful as you cook.
Take walks. Sounds super simple, right? It absolutely is. Rather than always being focused on squeezing in high calorie burning exercise or running the kiddos around to activities, just take some walks. Take walks by yourself, take walks as a family, take a walk with a friend. A half hour to an hour a day, focusing on nothing but the walk will leave you feeling calm, rested and centered. Breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun on your face and the breeze running through your hair. Incredible, right?
Make sleep a priority. There’s nothing that makes people more scattered than not enough sleep and making time for sleep is essential for staying healthy, happy and calm. Make an effort to go bed just a bit earlier each night – get everything set for the next day, crawl in bed and if you can’t fall asleep right away, practice your meditation or read a book. BUT, put the tech away and focus on relaxing. In time, you’ll be able to fall asleep a bit earlier and your body and mind will thank you for it.
Have you thought about trying to make mindful living a priority for you and your family? What makes up a mindful life for you?
