How to become more mindful in 2021

Mindfulness is one of the newer wellness trends in the US, making its way over from Eastern Ayurvedic practice into the daily lives of millions of Americans. You’ve likely heard of mindfulness but may not know what it really means, so I’ve summarized it for you.

According to Google dictionary, mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

Essentially, mindfulness involves slowing down the conveyor belt of thoughts that run frantically through our mind on a minute by minute basis. It’s not trying to think less per se, it’s just not buying into each thought that comes into your mind. It’s about getting out of your head and into your body, into the present moment.

Mindfulness can be used as a treatment for anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic stress, high blood pressure and many more conditions. This may seem far fetched, considering there is no medication taken or treatment provided, but mindfulness is powerful. The conditions mentioned are psychosomatic, meaning they are exacerbated by mental disturbance; thus, calming down the mind can help to alleviate some of the symptoms. The studies linked are clinical trials that have proven in each case that mindfulness is an effective treatment.

So how can mindfulness help your life? If you experience any of the aforementioned conditions, it may help your life dramatically, with zero side effects. Even if you’re otherwise healthy, mindfulness can improve your quality of life.

Being able to get out of your head is beneficial for everyone in many situations. If you’re on public transport surrounded by people before a busy day, take a minute to make a mental note of your five senses. Name something you can see, something you can hear, smell, taste and touch. Take in the world around you, become part of it, rather than living within your head and thoughts.

If you haven’t tried it, take five minutes to incorporate mindfulness into your life this week to see how your life can improve.

If you’re new to mindfulness, try out the following 5 minute 5 senses activity.

1. Set a timer on your phone, sit in a comfortable position and begin breathing slow, deep breaths, feeling the breath go down to your stomach, elevating your chest as it goes.

2. While continuing the deep breaths, for the first minute, focus on what you can hear around you.

3. For the second minute, think about what you can smell around you.

4. For the third, what can you see?

5. For the fourth, what can you taste?

6. And finally, what can you touch?

For 1-2-1 mindfulness coaching online with a board certified expert, please get in touch. Become more mindful = become happier! Start today.