Something that has been a big part of my life for a long time is mindfulness. Over the last year yoga and meditation have become a big part of my life. Through those things I have made my mindfulness practice stronger.
I wanted to share some ways you to can begin a mindful practice. No matter the amount of time you have in your day, anyone can have a mindful practice.
- Focus on your breath. You can do this at almost anytime. Turing your focus inward to your breath can help put you in the now. It can help erase the chatter going on in the brain, and help you to feel more relaxed.
All you need to to is take a deep breath in and then a deep breath out. Close your eyes if you can. If you want to count your breaths, that can also help to stay focused on breathing. Do this until you start to feel a sense of ease. And you can always come back to it at any time.
- Start a journal. This doesn’t have to be an extensive journal entry either. It can be as short or as long as you like. Simply jot some things down. Maybe you write how you feel at that moment, or maybe a goal you have for the day. Maybe you have a long list of thoughts racing through your mind and you need to get them on paper. I have journaled my entire life, like since the 3rd grade, and I find it extremely helpful.
There are also guided journals you can get. I have one right now called “The Three Minute Morning (and evening)”. Every morning when I wake up I fill in the prompts, and every night before bed I fill in the rest. It’s super easy and helps set your mind right for the day, and right before bed. Journaling can really help you discover what’s going on in your life, and what may need worked through.
- Meditation. Meditation doesn’t have to take a long time. You don’t have to be in a quiet room, have incense burning and all that jazz. There are many ways to meditate. You just have to find what works for you and your life. For instance, walking meditation can be done at any time you are walking. Maybe at work, or in and out of a store, at the park, etc. You simply pay attention to yourself walking, putting you in the now. Feeling your feet hit the floor, connecting with the earth. Of course if you have more time on your hands you can also do a sitting meditation. There are so many different types of meditation, you just have to find what works.
I hope some of these can help you on your journey of mindfulness. I know they have helped me. There are so many more ways to practice mindfulness as well. I just felt these were a great place to start.
As always if you have questions please seek me out. I’m always here to help guide 🙂