By Lauren Harrell
Maybe you have heard of mindfulness, or maybe this is a new concept to you. There is more and more support building for practicing mindfulness. It has not only been shown to improve mental health, but it may also have a positive impact on your physical health.
What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is a focus on or awareness of the present moment, including thoughts, feelings, and the environment around you. It involves recognizing and accepting those thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
How do you practice mindfulness? Sit quietly in a comfortable position and bring your attention to your breathing. Notice sensations and feelings around you. Just notice, acknowledge, and let the sensation/feeling pass from your focus. If a thought (whether it be about your to-do list, what you’re doing later, or a random idea) comes into your mind, acknowledge the thought, visualize it leaving your mind, and return your focus to your breath. Always refocus your attention back to the present moment. However, do not get frustrated with yourself for losing focus, but instead be forgiving to yourself. The more you participate in mindfulness meditation; the easier it will become. It will become easier to accept situations that arise throughout your day-to-day life as well as to be more present in your daily activities. You can practice mindfulness on your own or following instructions from a video/recording.
So what are the benefits? It helps treat and reduce the impact of depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and other mental/emotional issues. Mindfulness gives you the opportunity to regulate your thoughts and emotions, making it easier to handle stress and anxiety that arises. Resilience will become a stronger skill as you practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is all about showing yourself grace and self-compassion, which leads to a better ability to accept and cope with negative thoughts. It is known that physical symptoms can manifest due to mental/emotional issues. Mindfulness has been found to lower blood pressure, reduce pain, improve sleep quality and quantity, and alleviate gastrointestinal issues in some people. Need to focus better throughout the day? Try mindfulness. It can improve information processing and memory. And improved academic performance? Sign me up!
Who should practice mindfulness? Anyone and everyone! Studies have found that it has helped elementary students, teenagers, college students, and adults of all ages.
So what is next? Give mindfulness a try! If you give it a fair chance, you may find it reducing your stress, anxiety, and depression as well as improving your focus, resilience, and ability to be present throughout your day.
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