How To Practice Mindfulness

Do you sometimes come to work and find that you can’t remember exactly how you got there? Do you start eating only to look down and see that you’re suddenly done? If you said yes, don’t worry, there is nothing inherently wrong with you. These and similar examples are completely normal. They are examples of “mindless”, or in other words, “autopilot”.

It happens to all of us when we keep doing the same things over and over again. We store memories and actions in our long-term memory, and it becomes “second nature”.

We form unconscious habits, and our mind and body shift from a state of awareness to a state of inattention. Basically it means that we are not fully present in our own lives. Most of the time this will not cause a problem. However, it can also become a big and expensive problem. As a result, we may not be aware of what is happening around us.

We can miss some important things, like what our friends and family are doing, the signals from our own bodies, and more. When you spend a lot of time on this autopilot mindset, you become more responsive to events and less likely to be proactive. These reactions can cause you to tense up, panic, and become depressed.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the ability to stay in the present moment and focus on what is happening here and now. It is our ability not to think about the past or the future, but to observe what is happening in the moment.

Why You Should Practice Mindfulness

If you find yourself spending too much time on autopilot or feel like you’re not  fully conscious, practicing mindfulness can help. Practicing mindfulness means  paying more attention to what is going on around you. We all have the ability to be more mindful, but it takes  practice and conscious action. It’s about being aware of the moment and thinking about the present. Being aware means being aware of what is happening around you and inside you.

Regardless of how we view and experience life, regardless of how we choose to act, being mindful means that we experience everything in the present moment. So you can see it as being more mindful, being more in the present. All we have to do is pay attention to the present moment and allow ourselves to live  and experience the moment. So how do we become more conscious? How do we sharpen our senses and become more aware of each  moment as we experience it?

We can practice being more mindful. This is something we can all do and something I’m going to explain in more detail and how you can do it yourself.

How to Practice Mindfulness

We can all practice mindfulness, it takes time and focus. You need to start building small reminders into your day to start thinking about mindfulness. Something like nudge to remind you to think about what you’re doing.

Make the Effort to Be Mindful

Remember to be more mindful as often as possible. Think about what is going on around you and what you can see, smell and feel. See for yourself what it’s like to pay attention to the now. Take the time to think about how you are feeling, what is in your heart, body and mind?

Take a minute or two to breathe slowly, focusing on each breath and noticing what you are feeling in your mind. In the middle of a time-consuming task, like a meeting or a long journey, take a few deep breaths and pay attention to what’s going on around you. You can also do this before or after running a task.

Check in with your body

The body functions without your involvement: you breathe automatically, your heart beats continuously, and your bodily functions stay the same regardless of what you are doing. But, the body is constantly sending us messages through sensations and take a moment and examine your body: what are you noticing? where do you keep the tension Are you in pain?

Do you feel heavy or light? Focusing your attention on your body allows you to refocus your attention in the present, but it also connects you to the information you need to take better care of your body.

Pay attention to your heart

Our emotions are another way the body communicates with us at all times. Throughout the day you can experience a variety of emotions, from sadness to joy. By checking with your heart where your emotions are coming from, you gain more coherence. with yourself. My favorite source for this is the Heart Math Institute, which has conducted decades of research into the power of heart and how it affects not only our individual health but the well-being of others.

Mindful eating

Another time to focus on the present moment is when we are eating. Most of the time we don’t pay attention to what we eat because we eat while sitting at the desk, watching a youtube video or reading. But research has shown that when we eat  more mindfully, we digest food better, which helps us get more vitamins and minerals and contributes to overall digestive health. Watch your food  and watch how you eat.

Do you eat fast or slow? Do you chew  food or do you inhale it? How does your food taste? What you discover might even inspire you to take  an online cooking class!

Use your breath as a trigger

Using controlled breathing is a great way to bring yourself into the present moment. The feeling of breathing can help you with laser focusing. You need to practice feeling the breath going in and out. As you become more accustomed to breathing and feeling more aware, you can begin to use other sensations. You will learn to become more aware of what you hear, see, feel, smell, taste and think.

Continue to take the time to practice focusing on these experiences and your awareness will improve. It becomes much more fluid and eventually you will let your conscience guide you, you don’t have to think about it anymore.

Source: selfdevelopmentjourney.com; moniquetallon.com

Photo: YD News