5 Tips to Live More Mindfully

For many people, stress is often a byproduct of not being engaged. It's easy to become disengaged in life or to only focus on the negative and lose touch with joy and lightness in life.

Being mindful changes that because mindfulness brings us back into the present moment where there are real moments of beauty to be found-the trees outside our window, how light bends as it passes through leaves, the smell of coffee brewing during a break from work. If we can build more moments like these into our days, then it won't feel like we're simply stumbling through life always overwhelmed or anxious about something happening in the future."

A mindful life is much more enjoyable, but it's a practice that takes time and effort to develop. Here are 5 steps to help you start living a more mindful life:

1. Start small. I used to look at pictures of wildflowers in the woods for inspiration when I was feeling stuck in life or stressed out by work. I'd think about how the light shone through the trees and made the flowers look magical. It might not work for you, but find something that helps pull you out of life when it seems overwhelming so that you can take a moment to breathe before resuming your busy day."

2. Turn off technology. This may sound counterintuitive considering our world runs on technology, but there are many benefits to turning off the TV and iPhone for a few hours each day.

3. Breathe deeply throughout the day. This is an essential part of mindfulness practice because it helps you shift from a focus on your thoughts to your senses, which can help you experience life more fully rather than only reacting to the stressors that life throws at us."

4. Ask yourself, "What am I grateful for?" This is another way of shifting your focus from what's wrong in your life to something positive.. It can be hard not to get caught up in the negative news cycle and think about how horrible things are-from bad job prospects to the rising cost of groceries-but it's also important not to lose touch with gratitude, especially when we are feeling discouraged about life.

5. Breathe and drink a glass of water. Your breath is always with you so learning how to use it as an anchor when you need help regaining your sense of calm can be essential in a world of constant pressure and anxiety. Likewise, water can help you retrain your brain to be fully present when you engage in the habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day."