One of the new buzzwords in healthcare is mindfulness. Mindful magazine defines it as “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
That sounds simple, but the fact is that we don’t do it well. Our mind takes off and we lose touch with our bodies. Before you know it, we’re obsessing about something that just happened or worrying about the future, which can cause anxiety.
When we practice mindfulness, we reduce stress, enhance performance, gain insight and awareness of ourselves, and increase our attention to others’ well-being.
Tips for practicing mindfulness
- Take a seat.Whatever you’re sitting on—a chair, a meditation cushion, a park bench—find a spot that gives you a stable, solid seat Try not to perch or hang back.
- Notice what your legs are doing.If you’re sitting on the floor, cross your legs comfortably in front of you. If you’re on a chair, have the bottoms of your feet touch the floor.
- Straighten—but don’t stiffen—your upper body.The spine has natural curvature. Let it be. Rest your head and shoulders comfortably on top of your spine.
- Drop your hands comfortably on top of your legs. Too far forward will make you hunch. Too far back will make you stiff. Find that comfortable spot.
- Drop your chin a little and let your gaze fall gently downward.You can let your eyelids lower or close them completely, but it’s not necessary. Simply let what appears before your eyes be there without focusing on it.
- Stay in the moment.Relax for a few minutes. Then get up and go about your day.
That’s it! Even just a few minutes of practicing mindfulness every day can make a positive difference in how you feel and think. Have you tried implementing this yet? Let us know how it goes in the comments!
