Mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a practice of intentionally being present and paying attention to one's current experiences. Mindfulness has been found to improve not only mental but physical health by relieving stress, improving sleep, and even lowering blood pressure. You can make almost every activity “mindful” in a way, but if you’re like me, sometimes we need to be intentional on being intentional. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of mindful activities that you can try out!
Journal.
Keeping a journal benefits your emotional wellness. Some benefits of journaling include relieving stress and anxiety, improving your mood and memory, and inspiring creativity. This is such a helpful tool to not only be present but to keep a written record of where you are in this specific time in your life. Journaling requires being present no matter which way you choose to write. Whether you choose to bullet journal, use a guided journal, or write out your own journal entries you are sure to reap the benefits of journaling if you stay consistent.
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Yoga.
Yoga increases your physical strength and flexibility. It allows for better respiration and circulatory health while, depending on which form of yoga practiced, also giving you a great cardio workout. Yoga is known to be a great mindful activity because it pushes you to your limit and forces you to be present in the moment. When it comes down to it in the yoga studio it is only you and your mat that truly matters.
Read.
Besides the obvious benefits of expanding your knowledge and vocabulary, reading stimulates your mind while improving your focus and concentration. You often hear people speaking on how they just can’t stay focused while reading but it is important to read things that interest you. Reading a textbook or a boring article that you aren’t really enjoying is not helpful when practicing mindfulness. Find a genre or an author that you’re interested in and I am sure you will finish the book in no time.
Goal Setting.
There are numerous benefits to goal setting. Often times we find ourselves having so much that we want to achieve and no idea on how to start which can cause anxiety. Goal setting provides direction and allows us to be focused on the things we want without the miscellaneous stress. It could be as simple as writing down your goals with the dates you want to have them accomplished by. I highly recommend goal setting not only to be mindful but to help you on your journey of evolving.
Meditation.
Although many people try this form of mindfulness for the popular benefits of reducing stress and anxiety, meditations have been found to promote self awareness, increase attention spans, and reduce memory loss. Our minds are constantly running wild and sometimes the best way to center ourselves is to literally sit still and breathe. Many people practice guided meditations, spiritual meditations, and even movement meditations. This is a form of mindfulness that takes a little bit of practice so be patient with yourself as you indulge in the art of meditation.
Mindful Seeing
Mindfulness is about being present. This activity forces the participant to be in the moment. We often times forget how beautiful the world around us actually is. Mindful Seeing is simply about sitting and taking in everything that you see. Pay attention to the colors, tones, textures of things around you. This have been found to deepen your self awareness and expand your gratitude for every day things.