Practising Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a very commonly used term in the media, but what exactly does it mean? Very simply, mindfulness is being present in everything you do. Many people associate mindfulness with meditation, and although you can help build your mindfulness through meditation techniques, they are not the same thing. It is not something temporary like meditation, but rather more of a lifestyle, and cultivating the ability to be present in everything, all day everyday. It also helps us deal with negative emotions in a healthier way and allows us to keep perspective. There are techniques to help build this skill, a lot of which you will probably be familiar with. 

Here are some quick and easy ways of practising mindfulness every day:

Breathing

Breathing is an incredibly important thing - focusing on it can help anchor you to the present moment. There are activities you can do that are based around breathing such as yoga or even something simple like focusing on your breathing while you are on a walk. Meditation is a famous way to take a few minutes and focus on breathing and just relax. 

Grounding

Grounding is a technique that can also be used for dealing with anxiety; it is a way of bringing yourself back to the present by  paying attention to your surroundings and engaging your senses. Focus on what you can smell, see and hear. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 rule; acknowledge five things you can see around you, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.  

Set an intention for the day

Setting a goal or something  you want to accomplish for the day can make you more productive and efficient in working towards your goal if you know exactly what it is. Check in throughout the day and make sure you are focused towards your goal. Setting a goal can be through writing a to-do list, or having a goal in mind or even something like journaling. Seeing your goals organised in your head or on paper can be amazing for increasing your productivity, and making you more efficient. 

Meditation

This is possibly the most popular method of working on your mindfulness, but it is also incredibly easy to do incorrectly. Many people struggle with stopping their mind from wandering, but the important thing is recognising when your mind wanders rather than restricting your mind. It is natural for your mind to wander especially with the incredibly busy days we lead, but if you are able to recognise when your mind wanders, you can bring it back to your meditative state. Remember to be non-judgemental when you are meditating - this is a time to be present and also process your thoughts properly and in a healthy way. 

Mindfulness seems very intimidating, but using some of these small tricks on a daily basis can help get you more in time with yourself. It has many benefits, to increasing happiness, making your sleep better and in some cases has even shown to rewire your brains in a much more positive way.