Want to become more mindful in your life but aren’t quite sure where to start?
Well, you’re in luck! This post will discuss 5 simple things that you can do to incorporate more mindfulness into your life. Mindfulness is an important part of being able to manage your stress before your stress manages you. It helps you to keep your focus in the present, which lessens worry and tension about things that occurred in the past and the “what’s going to become of me” angst that some people feel about the future.
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to add some more mindfulness into your life. And the best way to do this is by setting aside time every day to meditate. I hadn’t always thought about it like this in the past, but meditation creates a space for you to spend quality time with yourself! It helps with self-reflection as meditation allows you to evaluate how you feel emotionally and physically.
It’s a form of self-care as it helps relieve stress and allows you to feel generally calmer about the situations you encounter in life. If you want to become more mindful, you really must meditate daily.
Spend Time Outside
Nature is where it’s at! Spending time outside in the fresh air can do wonders for your mentality. It doesn’t require any special training or equipment. Start by going for a walk in a park near your house and paying attention to the scenery around you. Look closely at the trees, how do their leaves look swaying in the wind? Are there any clouds in the sky? What do they look like? How does the air around you feel? This helps you stay in the moment which is what mindfulness is all about.
Start Your Day With A Purpose
Morning routines are a great way to start each day mindfully. Having a morning routine allows you to start your days with a clear purpose. Start your morning routine by planning out your morning the night before. Maybe you decide to wake up early and start your day relaxed and prepared by meditating when you first wake up, completing breathing exercises, or even going for a walk before work. If those activities aren’t your style, maybe you can start your morning with prayer, gratitude journaling or yoga.
Watch What You Eat
Now, when I say watch what you eat, I doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to go on a diet. Nowadays many people have meals that are just quick periods to eat as fast as possible.
Instead, slow down and take each bite with purpose. How? By noticing all of the flavors you’re consuming, their textures, their scents and how they look. Then make sure to pay attention after you finish eating to see how different foods affect your moods and health. You may be surprised by what you discover.
Pause For The Cause - Evaluate
Life can get really hectic; even in the midst of a pandemic. Sometimes, there’s so much going on that you don’t have time to spend on yourself. However, I would say that no matter how busy things get or what your schedule is like, now is the time to work in frequent pauses.
These pauses don’t have to be long period of self-reflection, although that is a good practice to have in your life. You just a few minutes to breathe deeply and evaluate how you feel at that particular moment in time. Especially when things are feeling out of control, these mindful pauses can do wonders for stress relief.
So there you have it! 5 easy ways to incorporate more mindfulness into your life, one moment at a time.
Let’s talk, how do you incorporate mindfulness into your life? Let me know in the comments section.
Cassandra Martin-Himmons is a trainer, wellness coach and consultant who believes in empowering her clients and providing the tools that they need to make positive changes in their lives to manage their stress and increase their self-care. In her spare time, she enjoys papercrafting, volunteering and travel. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn