Practicing Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Mindfulness has become something of a buzzword. Everyone seems to be talking about it, and there are now even second-year university students who will confidently announce that they are mindful people (Usually if you boast about how mindful you are, you are probably not as mindful as you might want to be). Being mindful seems simple but it really is tough to stay in the moment. How many of us actually put this into practice? This blog post is for all those folks out there who have heard about the benefits of being more mindful but haven’t yet found ways to make it happen in their own lives. It covers all the basics you need to know about mindfulness as well as some simple strategies you can use to incorporate it into your everyday life.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully aware of what’s going on around you and inside you in the present moment. This means that instead of letting your mind wander to what happened earlier in the day, or what you have to do tomorrow, you stay fully in the moment and aware of what is going on. This can be applied to almost any situation, whether you are at work, with friends, out exercising, driving a car, cooking, or reading a book. Being mindful means that you approach everything in a detached and non-judgmental way. You are simply aware of the thoughts that come into your head, but you don’t get caught up in them. When you are mindful, you are fully present in the moment, without being attached to results or outcomes. You simply do what needs to be done without worrying about whether you are doing it right or if you are making any mistakes.

The Benefits of Mindfulness

Greater productivity: Being present and focused on the task at hand will help you to get things done faster, better and with less stress.

Better relationships: Mindfulness helps you to be more present in the moment and focused on the people around you. This means that when you’re with friends and family you aren’t thinking about what you have to do later or what you did earlier that day. Instead, you are 100% engaged in the conversation and are much less likely to get irritated or annoyed by other people’s behavior.

Improved self-awareness: When you are mindful, you are more aware of your thoughts and feelings. This means that when you have negative thoughts you can acknowledge them and let them pass rather than getting caught up in them. It also means that when you have positive thoughts and feelings you can appreciate them fully instead of taking them for granted.

Better health: Numerous studies have shown that mindfulness has many health benefits. It has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality, boost energy levels, improve mental health and increase resilience. It can even help you to lose weight and become more productive at work.

Why Is It So Hard to Be Mindful?

If being mindful is so great, then why does it seem as though nobody does it? The reason why many people find it difficult to be mindful is because we are constantly thinking and analyzing. Our minds are constantly whirring and we don’t even realize it. We are so caught up in our thoughts that we don’t have time to be fully aware of our surroundings. The key to being more mindful is to silence the constant chatter in your head. When you are constantly thinking, analyzing and planning ahead, you can’t be mindful. You need to learn to step back and observe your thoughts rather than getting caught up in them. This is easier said than done, which is why many people find it difficult to be mindful.

3 Simple Strategies for Being More Mindful in Everyday Life

Make time to be alone: This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours and hours in silence. Instead, it simply means that you take some time out each day to be on your own.

Meditate: If you have never tried meditation before, it is worth giving it a go. It is a great way to train your mind to be less restless and distracted and to be more mindful.

Notice your thoughts and let them go: As mentioned above, you need to learn to be less attached to your thoughts and more aware of them. This means that when you notice yourself thinking you don’t get caught up in these thoughts and you simply let them pass.

Conclusion

Being mindful is an excellent way to improve your quality of life. It can help you to be more productive at work, have better relationships with friends and family and improve your health and well-being. The only thing standing in your way is your own constant overthinking and overanalyzing. If you can learn to step back from your thoughts and be aware of them without getting caught up in them, then you will be well on your way to being a more mindful person. If you want to be a more mindful person, then you need to actively try to be in the moment and focus on what is happening around you. This includes not only what you are currently doing but also what is happening inside of you. Mindfulness can help you to reduce stress, improve your health, achieve your goals and be a better friend and family member. Why not give it a try and see how much better your life can be?