In this crazy world it is easy to get caught up in being busy. Forever running from one activity to the next, mindlessly flowing through each day. You accomplish one task and then move on to the next in order to meet deadlines without allowing yourself to stop and take a breath. When you don’t give yourself time between tasks to embrace your accomplishment, your brain doesn’t have the opportunity to regroup and prepare for the next project. It is time to take back your life and add mindfulness into your day.
Including mindfulness in your life has many benefits. It can reduce stress levels by focusing on one task at a time and freeing our mind from the clutter of multitasking. This leads to a decrease in anxiety levels, since you aren’t stressing on what still needs to be accomplished. Mindfulness also increases your empathy levels by reducing stress and anxiety levels, you are able to devote time to considering someone else’s perspective. Instead of thinking about how much you have to do and worrying about finishing it all, you have time to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and sympathize with them. Being mindful has many benefits and even in your fast paced lives, there is always time to add a few of these practices into your day. Bringing mindfulness into your life is easier than you may think.
Stop. Drop. And Breathe.
One of the most important steps in becoming mindful is to stop and take a breath (or 10) when you feel overwhelmed. This simple activity stops your brain from overthinking and brings its focus onto the melody of your breath, which then allows you to bring your attention back to the task at hand. An easy breathing exercise is to inhale for the count of 3 and pause for a count of 2 at the top of your inhale. Then, exhale for the count of 3 and pause for a count of 2 at the bottom of your exhale. Repeat at least 5 times.
Take a Look Around
Whenever you step out of your office or home, look around. Take in the nature. Literally stop and smell the flowers. Gaze up at the sky and look at the clouds. Connecting with nature is a great way to add more mindfulness into your life. When you reconnect with mother nature, it balances hormones and neurotransmitters. Earthing (walking barefoot on dirt or sand) is an easy way to get back in touch with nature, raise your vibrations, reduce stress, and increase energy levels. The process of becoming more aware of your environment only takes a few seconds, but has great benefits.
Take a Break
In-between tasks allow for a few minutes to regroup instead of flowing from one activity to the next. These few minutes will help decrease burnout and anger by keeping stress and anxiety levels low. When you allow yourself to process and rest, you are giving your brain a break, which then lets you fully commit and concentrate on your next task.
Honor Your Limits
When your mind or body is telling you to rest. Then rest. Productivity is at its best when you are well rested. Being sick or stressed out isn’t healthy. When you’re not feeling well, that is your body’s way of telling you to take a break. Listen to it. Powering through a nasty cold at work doesn’t give you time to fully heal. When you don’t allow yourself to rest after an illness or by keeping your body in a constant state of stress, it can lead to more serious health issues down the road. Taking a day off to regroup will relax your brain and allow for better cognitive function when you return.
Incorporating more mindfulness into your life will lead to better relationships, lower stress and anxiety levels, more task productivity, better decision making skills, and an increased quality of life. It doesn’t take more than a few moments to start on your path of mindfulness, but it will have a great effect on your mind, body, spirit connection. You deserve to always feel your best.
XOXO,
Devin