Mindfulness is the ability to be fully aware of your surroundings and what you are doing and to keep your mind present. Mindfulness utilizes all 5 senses and affects us mentally, emotionally, and physically. It has many benefits like reducing stress and anxiety, decreasing depression, improving our immunity, curing insomnia, controlling diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and helping a person cut down on unhealthy addictions.
There is no specific time to practice mindfulness. It can be done in every moment of your life. This can be through proper meditation exercises like yoga or even something as minute as taking time to pause and breathe before opening the door when the doorbell rings.
These are the steps you can follow to practice mindfulness.
Be attentive
In today’s extremely busy world and hectic schedules, it can be difficult to notice things around us. When you practice mindfulness try to use all 5 of your senses that is sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, when you are having coffee take time to enjoy your drink, take in the aroma of the coffee beans, taste the coffee properly, and truly enjoy it.
Enjoy little things
A benefit of practicing mindfulness is that your mood improves and you feel happier because you start appreciating the little things in life. Try to keep a positive attitude and take time to enjoy everything around you. When was the last time you noticed the stars in the sky? Take pleasure from little things.
Embrace yourself
Treat yourself the way you treat others. Give yourself more credit than you think you deserve. Take time to appreciate and pamper yourself. It is nice to take care of your family but it is also important to make yourself a priority.
Focus on breathing techniques
Breathing deeply in and out is very important to calm oneself. It is especially important if you have negative thoughts and want to distract yourself or are feeling low. Deep breathing helps to remove stress and anxieties.
