“So the pie isn’t perfect? Cut it into wedges. Stay in control, and never panic.”
– Martha stewart
In an earlier post , I provided some tips on managing uncertainty. One of my tips was to be present. One of the ways to manage uncertainty is to practice mindfulness. What is mindfulness? Well without getting too technical, it’s the ability to be fully present and engaged in whatever you are doing at the moment without distractions or judgment. Sounds easy right? Well not exactly.
We live in a busy world, especially now. Juggling work conference calls and projects, my kid’s snack requests, and the endless piles of laundry day to day nearly takes me out. While I create a condensed to do list, there are days I can barely tackle #1 on my list.
So if it’s not easy, what do you do? Well, you find a technique that works for you. There are multiple techniques, but they all point to one goal – to achieve a state of alert and focused relaxation. As a wellness advocate, that’s what I’m talking about! Here are a few tips I have found to practice mindfulness.
Be Still
I know. Don’t laugh at me. With all that you have going being still seems like a challenge. However, in order to get to a place of focus, I had to force myself to be still. So that meant putting the phone down, turning the TV off, and removing distractions. At first, I was only finding a few minutes, but now I start and end my day with about 10-15 minutes of just stillness. I’m a night owl, so sometimes my stillness is just in the evening. Either way, I have come to love these quiet moments.
Just Breathe
Now that you have a moment to be still, now what do you do? Just breathe! Yep, that’s it. Let me throw another term at you. Have you ever heard of breathwork? Basically, it is different breathing techniques, programs, and exercises, you can do to intentionally change your breathing pattern. One of my favorite breathwork exercises is to get into a comfortable position and start taking deep breaths just concentrating on my breath. As I begin to focus, I become more noticeable of how I’m feeling and enter in a deeper relaxed state.
Get Help
If you still feel the need like you need extra support, you’ve got options! There are tons of articles, books, YouTube videos, etc. that can help you practice mindfulness. One resource I like is using the Calm app. A guided practice definitely helps when you are first starting out. Another added resource I like to include are positive affirmations. My favorite affirmation is all is well, so saying that to myself is definitely calming.
Since incorporating mindfulness into my daily routine, I have seen an improvement in my well-being. I’ve come to have a better appreciation for living in the present. Although I still tend to worry, I have been able to worry less and have been better about turning my brain off to relax. Post a comment below on how you incorporate mindfulness into your routine. I’d love to swap tips!
Leave a Reply