How to Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be so helpful in numerous ways. It is sometimes hard to practice when we get so busy with everyday life. Mindfulness can help maintain calmness, reduce stress, lessen self-judgement, and encourage awareness and focus. Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere and just about at any time. So how do we practice mindfulness? There are so many ways to practice mindfulness, and trying these can help you figure out which practice is right for you.
Breath awareness: Close your eyes, inhale, and exhale slowly until you feel calm.
Body scan: Lay down with your eyes closed and slowly bring awareness to each part of your body.
Gratitude: Each day think of or write down three things you are grateful for.
Affirmations: To yourself or in the mirror say things like “I am loved” “I deserve happiness” “I am doing a good job”.
Journal: Take a few minutes every day to write down your feelings and thoughts.
Try guided meditation. Guiding videos can be found on YouTube for free!
Visualization: Take a few minutes and envision a peaceful, happy place, thinking about every detail of the place.
Try yoga or mindful stretching exercises. This will help create calmness and release stress in the body.
One of the most important aspects of mindfulness is loving yourself and an attitude of non-judgement towards yourself. Mindfulness helps and works when you are kind to yourself.