Mindfulness, is a tricky concept, isn’t it? You always hear about how mindful you should be and how you should meditate every day. But life is tough! You may be a busy mom, an ambitious entrepreneur, or a late-in-life grad student. You more likely than not have a very full plate. I mean, really–do you ever get around to actually practicing mindfulness? If your answer is no, don’t worry. I get it.
It’s hard to maintain a habit, and it’s even harder to create one! That’s why I’m here. I’m a certified happiness coach, and I can help you achieve a mindfulness practice that will pay you back–big time. Today, I’m bringing you the ultimate guide to achieving mindfulness.
What is mindfulness, anyway?
Mindfulness is the human ability to be fully present in a moment, without any clutter in the mind. It’s a state of being that keeps us calm, collected, and slow to react. It’s a beautifully sweet state that allows us to create memories, express love, and feel emotions wholeheartedly. It’s our birthright to experience and is usually achieved through meditation. But it’s becoming harder and harder to attain.
How can we become more mindful?
It all starts with creating a habit. Habits are created when we have a routine, a cue for that routine, and a reward post-engaging in said routine. For example, if our routine is to hit the snooze button, the cue is the alarm, and the reward is getting extra sleep.
The same goes for every behavior we have. Habits can be either good for our health or bad for our health, but we can use this information to create a habit of mindfulness.
5 tips to become more mindful
- Set alarms to remind yourself. Whether it’s listening to a guided meditation, taking a walk, or checking in with your emotions–setting reminders will help you stay on top of your new habit.
- Commit to just five minutes a day. Even five minutes of meditation will do wonders for your habit development! It’s less about what happens during those five minutes (trust me, I’ve let my mind wander one too many times!), and more about how a consistent practice trains your mind. It’s a long game, and you deserve to see the finish line.
- Move your body. Even something as simple as stretching at your desk, dedicating time to move your body, and releasing stagnant or negative energy from your vessel is so important! It helps you relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and promote a better mood overall. Plus, it can be considered a moving meditation!
- Use the breath to come back to the present moment. Any time you’re in your head or feeling overwhelmed, check in with your breath. Are you holding it? Is it shallow and quick? The more you train yourself to check your breath, the better you’ll start to feel. If you notice changes to your breathing due to different emotions, use the box method. In for four, hold for four, out for four. Times four. Works every time! Bonus tip: use this in your meditation practice. Sometimes anxious thoughts creep up in meditation, and this tip can greatly help bring you back to equilibrium!
- Celebrate the small things. When you feel the warm sun on your skin, celebrate that. Thank the sun for warming you! When you have a quiet enough moment to hear distant birdsong, revel in that. When your favorite pup is so happy to see you come home, really meet her on her level! You both deserve it. Celebrate the small things. They are the big things when life comes to an end.
More mindfulness? Sure thing!
If you’re looking for professional help to create and maintain a mindfulness practice, I am here to help. I’m a certified happiness coach and would love to help you achieve a happier and more mindful state of being. Let’s connect!
