Staying Mindful
On average, Americans check their phones 96 times a day or once every 10 minutes.This number has been steadily increasing over the past several years as well.
We are now inundated with social media, work, school, entertainment, and more on a constant, daily basis. With so many distractions right at our fingertips, how is anyone expected to live in the moment?
Now more than ever, mindfulness is crucial to promoting good mental health.
According to Greater Good Magazine, mindfulness means “maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.” When we are so overwhelmed by other people in our lives, it can be hard to stop and remember that our bodies also need love and attention amid the chaos of everyday life. The act of compassion and acceptance for ourselves is a difficult aspect of being mindful when we are so conditioned to judge things as right or wrong.
However, with practice, you can begin to have a more mindful and intentional state of being.
Here are 3 simple ways that you can begin practicing living in the moment today.
Be Still - Whether you are a religious/spiritual person or not, meditation is one of the best ways to practice structured mindfulness. You do not have to meditate in silence for hours on end, but take a few minutes out of your day to become in tune with your surroundings. This can be done utilizing prayer, guided meditations, music, or silence.
Patience and Compassion - Be patient with yourself and remind your body that it is okay to have difficulties with mindfulness. Forgive yourself and show compassion when your mind wanders away from focus on being present. Always be sure to return to your exprecise in mindfulness, but remember that your actions are neither good nor bad, they just are.
Listen to Your Senses - Our senses are our most powerful ally in practicing mindfulness. You can practice being in the moment when you use all 5 of your senses - touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. The senses help you to become more grounded in the reality of the present by making you aware of how your body feels in relation to your surroundings.
Just starting with these 3 methods for increasing mindfulness can have lasting effects on your mental health. So for now, take a deep breath, take notice of where you are right in this very moment, and remind yourself that you are doing your very best.
