Powers of Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been growing since the 1970s, taking skills from Buddhism and Hindu traditions.

Mindfulness is a type of meditation - which may sound difficult. It’s about focusing on being aware of your surroundings, the moment, and what you’re sensing/feeling. If you’re wondering when you should be using mindfulness, worried that your every day to-do list is already overwhelming - how could you possibly add more to your plate? Let’s quickly start with the benefits you could see after practicing mindfulness.

Using mindfulness strategies has been shown to have positive effects on negative thinking, stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep. There is also evidence that mindfulness improves attention, pain, high blood pressure, and decrease burnout.

Some simpler ways of practicing mindfulness include:

• Paying Attention - slow down, notice things around you, experience how all of your senses engage with the environment.

• Live in the Moment - intentionally bringing attention to everything you do, finding joy in everyday things.

• Focus on Breathing - bring your attention to your breathing, and focus on slowing your breathing down, and feel it move through your body.

Now that you have some information about mindfulness and what it is, let’s discuss when you can/should use these skills. The skills listed above can take as short amount of time as you want. Have 5 seconds to stop while walking to work to smell some flowers? Taking 10 seconds to enjoy the food you’re eating? Taking a deep breath to collect your thoughts before raging on a coworker? All of these are a form of mindfulness.

For more information on mindfulness and reducing stress, join our membership site.