If you want to know what “mindfulness” means and how to be mindful in your daily life, you’re in the right place. As a bonus, you’ll discover five easy ways to build your mindfulness muscle without spending a lot of time at it.
Why bother being mindful? For starters, it quiets your brain so you can sleep and gives you better control over your emotions. Mindfulness teaches you how to reduce compulsive thought spirals common in anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It also gives you a tool to control thoughts that make chronic illness, pain, and depression more manageable. In regards to brain function, a mindful approach to thinking leads to better problem-solving, memory, and creativity.
Those are just a few of the ways mindfulness makes you happier and healthier. If you’re curious about this topic, check out my top ten list of mindfulness benefits.
Being mindful means being aware of what’s going on in the present moment. It includes awareness of
☑️ physical sensations
☑️ feelings and urges
☑️ intuitive senses
☑️ habitual responses
☑️ people around you
☑️ physical spaces
What specific aspect of mindfulness puts you in control of your health and well-being? Focusing on one thing at a time! By directing your full attention in one place, awareness remains undiluted and uninterrupted by distractions. Being mindful also means not labeling a particular experience as “good” or “bad.” Likewise, don’t make it your mission to find things that need fixing – just notice what IS.
Try these easy ways to be more mindful in your everyday life:
- Don’t multi-task. Be fully engaged while watching TV, eating, driving, etc.
- Check in daily. Monitor your body for any changes in pain or tension.
- Listen closely. Make an effort to attend to conversations as they’re going on.
- Be an observer. Pay attention to your environment rather than letting it blend in.
- Keep your time. Schedule your time to see how much you’ve got and how you spend it.
For another easy way to be more mindful, learn more about gratitude.
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Meet Brenna
I’m a music therapist, dog mom, nature enthusiast, business owner, introvert, sleep and stress management coach, and research lover. My mission is to help you remove stress as a barrier to better health, greater happiness, and more meaningful connections with the people and passions that make life exciting.
