So what is it all about?

 So recently I’ve been hearing the word mindfulness all over the place and was never sure that I fully understood it. There’s suddenly a trend of online articles, books and lectures on the benefits of it and people have even started buying ‘adult colouring books’ to promote mindfulness and reduce stress. But what does it actually mean and why should we all be practising it?

Although I’m fairly new to the whole concept, I understand mindfulness to be an effort to live in the present moment. For me, it helps to imagine ‘filling my mind’ with the observations and sensations of the present moment and consequently leaving less room for the worries and anxieties that accompany focusing on the past and/or future. But this can sometimes seem pretty hard to do. Of course we all worry about the future or ruminate on what’s happened in the past, but the practice of mindfulness should give us a chance to take a break from these worries and appreciate the here and now.

My Mindful Practice

I have a long way to go with my practice of mindfulness, but can honestly say that it is a fantastic tool to give some perspective at times when I’m feeling down or anxious. I am a bit of a worrier and find it difficult to quieten my mind sometimes, but am slowly finding this easier as my understanding of mindfulness grows.

Things I find helpful:

• Exercise – The best thing to keep me present is to focus my attention on the body instead of the mind and exercise has the added benefit of releasing endorphins to give you a positive feeling and sense of achievement.    (I try to practice yoga in the morning as soon as I wake up, to start my day positively. This is often just a short practice and needn’t be anything too strenuous, but is sure to bring my attention to the present by focusing on breath and posture. I call this: Good Morning Yoga).

• Fresh Air – It may sound silly, but something as simple as going outside and breathing in some fresh air is often enough to re-focus my mind. (I will often take a walk if I’m feeling worried or anxious and try to use it as an opportunity to gain some perspective by appreciating what’s around me. I think the senses are incredibly powerful and just by allowing them to take the lead, noticing the sounds I hear, the smells, the colour of the leaves in the park etc.; I am able to feel more grounded).

• ‘Me Time’  – Take a time out and relax a little. Firstly, turn your phone to silent and avoid social media. I know, I know – it’s impossible right? Wrong. You’re stronger than you think and I guarantee that if you’re feeling a little low or worried about something, social media will not improve the situation. Give yourself half an hour in the day where you are the main priority. It’s not selfish; if you need to take some time to recharge before you can offer the best version of yourself to others – do it! (‘Me Time’ can basically be anything you want, as long as you’re allowing yourself to relax and enjoy a moment that is all yours. I like to do this by reading a good book or listening to music on the record player. If I’m feeling really indulgent maybe a bubble bath and a glass of wine!)

• Mindful Meditation – This is perhaps one to build up to, but is definitely worth the effort in the long run. A short meditation practice, focusing on breathing is a fantastic way to quieten the mind and feel peaceful and present. Meditation can be quite tricky though and it is hard to stop the mind wandering and those worries to start creeping back in, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not able to focus for long; these things take time! (My current meditation practice often comes after yoga and consists of breathing exercises which focus my mind, before sitting for about five minutes at a time in closed-eye meditation. I have also tried walking meditation and candle meditation where I can gently focus on the flame during the practice).

So there you have it. A Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness practice (by another beginner, figuring it out as I go along). I hope my experience so far will be useful and you’ll be inspired to share my mindfulness journey.