7 Easy Mindfulness Practices to Help Your Results
- Eat slowly. Notice your food before you eat it – how it looks, smells, and tastes – and take your time to enjoy it.
- Avoid multitasking. When you’re doing 3 things at once it can feel like you’re unstoppable, but the truth is it’s actually not as efficient and it makes it hard for your brain to focus.
Give yourself permission to do just one thing at a time, and watch your stress levels reduce almost immediately!
- Listen. When you’re having a conversation with someone, really listen to what they say (vs. thinking about what you are going to say next).
This can help boost your focus, reduce your stress, AND improve your relationships (another stress-buster).
- Make it a routine. Pick a certain part of the day – your morning commute, a lunchtime walk – to simply focus and be aware of all the sensations created by the environment surrounding you. And do it every day!
- Mix it up. Do something DIFFERENT to see the world in a new way. Change where you sit at a meeting, take a new route when you’re driving, try a new food, read a book instead of listening to it.
This can 1) improve your focus and 2) give you a new perspective!
- Give your thoughts or feelings “names.” When you start thinking or worrying about something – a work evaluation, a presentation, or even the state of the world – say to yourself something like: “This is just a thought about my work evaluation.”
Naming them can take away some of their power and it also can help you recognize patterns in your thinking/moods.
- Breathe! Take breaks through the day and focus on breathing in and out through your nose deep into your belly. This works with your nervous system to help you feel calm and focused.
Note: There are tons of other ways to improve mindfulness – go outside in nature, create a relaxing evening wind-down routine, journal, etc. Do what works for you – and do it intentionally.
The point is to slow down your thoughts and RELAX. 🙂
Your body (and brain) will thank you for it!
Make it a mindful day,
Jack, 360 Fitness Personal Training
