"Mindfulness"
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is defined as the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
It is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment and thoughts/sensations without judgment.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Better focus and attention
More creativity
Reduces anxiety and depression
Improves memory and academic performance
How to Practice Mindfulness
1. Eat Mindfully
When eating, let us eat. Let us put our phones down, turn off our TV's, and really taste what we are eating, noticing the colours and texture of the food. This may seem boring at first, but you will be surprised how busy our minds are even when we are trying to do this simple exercise. When we get distracted, we keep bringing our attention back to our meal.
2. Practice Meditation
Meditation teaches us to stay present by means of bringing our attention to our breath. To learn how to meditate and how it affects our brain, click on Mindful Meditation.
3. Be Mindful On Your Walks
Put your phone away, lift your head up. Feel the breeze on your face, notice the colours you see. Feel your legs moving forward step by step. Listen to your footsteps. Be aware of how you are breathing. These simple actions will rewire our brains in a way to improve our focus.
4. Do One Thing At a Time
Again, let us put our phones down when we go to the washroom! Doing one thing at a time with laser like focus helps us become more productive.
Afterwords...
When you start practicing mindfulness, you will start to notice that you have been missing out on many things in life. You will start to have more awareness of things around, inside, and outside you.
