6 Easy Steps To Begin Your Mindfulness Practice

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness refers to the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment. It is often associated with meditation and other mindfulness-based practices. 

While mindfulness has its roots in Buddhism and has been practiced for thousands of years, it has gained popularity in recent years as a secular, evidence-based approach to mental and physical well-being.  Jon Kabat-Zinn, an American professor of medicine, introduced the concept of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in the 1970s, which helped to bring mindfulness into mainstream Western medicine and psychology.

1. Meditation: This is one of the most popular ways to practice mindfulness. You can start by sitting in a comfortable position, focusing on your breath, and allowing your thoughts to come and go without judgment. You can begin with as little as 5-10 minutes per day, and gradually increase the time as you become more comfortable with the practice.
2. Yoga: Yoga is a physical practice that can also help to promote mindfulness. It involves moving the body through a series of postures, while also focusing on the breath. This can help to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
3. Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a great way to practice mindfulness. This can help you to become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, and understand them better.
4. Mindful movement: This can include walking, running, cycling, swimming and other activities where you focus your attention on your body movements, breathing and sensation in the present moment.
5. Mindful eating: This involves paying attention to the taste, smell, and texture of your food as you eat, rather than eating mindlessly or while distracted.
6. Use the 5 senses method;  A simple but effective mindfulness exercise is to notice what you are experiencing right now through any - or all of - your five senses: sound, sight, touch, taste, and smell.
   
   

Look for 5 things that you can see, 4 things that you can touch, 3 things that you can hear, 2 things that you can smell and 1 thing that you can taste.  

It's important to find a method that works for you, and to stick with it over time to see the benefits. Also, it's a good idea to set aside a specific time each day for your practice, so that it becomes a regular part of your routine.

Share This Article

If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend or using our icons above, on your social media.  We are living in challenging times and mindfulness is a wonderful practice  to help move from stress and anxiety back into a space of calm and balance.