Mindfulness is the art of being present to what is happening around you rather than worrying about the future or fretting over the past. It has various benefits. Mindfulness involves fully aware, present, and engaged with your current situation and environment. It sounds easy enough.
In today’s fast-paced world, we do not seem to have time to focus on the here and now. Instead, we are always thinking about things in the future and the what-ifs of life. A study by Harvard University found that distraction interferes with the brain’s natural rhythm. The study’s participants participated in eight weeks of mindful meditation. At the end of the study, the participants’ attention significantly improved.
The first step to a happy, healthy life is learning to let go of the past and not worry about the future. Letting go is difficult, but it is possible to transform one’s thought processes. Here are some tips on letting go and embracing mindfulness’s power.
Difference between Mindfulness and Anxiety
Mindfulness focuses attention on the present, while anxiety focuses on past occurrences or future events. Mindfulness is a tool for maintaining peace, perspective, and balance. Together, these things reduce anxiety and bring harmony to one’s life.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness can help you react positively. Scientific studies have discovered that mindfulness helps form new neural pathways, which improves brain function. As individuals begin practicing mindfulness, they will notice cognitive improvements, increased productivity, and improved behavior. 
Mindfulness is extraordinary for people of all ages. From kids to adults, mindfulness offers many benefits, including-
- Improved behavior
- Improved concentration
- Increased body awareness
- Increased self-confidence
- Reduced ADHD symptoms
- Increased self-awareness – You will become less reactive to adverse situations. Even when you are going through a bad situation, you can be grateful for some things.
- Cognitive flexibility – This is the ability to switch between ideas and thought concepts, including multitasking. Multitasking allows us to process information effectively and increase our productivity. Although it has some drawbacks, it can help improve brain capacity and enable you to better handle your irrational responses and overreactive thoughts.
Incorporate Mindfulness in Your Daily Life
Incorporating mindfulness in your daily life can be simplified in two words – Slow Down.
- Take your time and be present while eating – Rather than rushing through your meals, take your time to taste and enjoy your food.
- Be present during your commute to work or school – While you are on your way to work or school, slow down, notice, and enjoy your surroundings.
- Don’t react too quickly – When things do not go as planned, or life becomes chaotic, it is easy to overreact. Learning to stop, consider how you will react, and choose the proper reaction will benefit you once you begin practicing mindfulness.
As you slow down, you will become more mindful. You can also focus on the present, improving productivity and increasing your enjoyment.
Tips to Boost Mindfulness
Several ways to boost your mindfulness and slow down include breath control, minimizing distractions, and getting enough sleep. Check out these tips to help you become more mindful and slow down.
Breath Control
Concentrating on breathing, learning to slow down, and becoming more mindful can reduce anxiety and stress. Here are some breathing techniques to calm your body and mind.
- Equal Breathing – Equal breathing uses equal lengths of inhalations and exhalations to help balance breathing. Begin by inhaling for a count of four and then exhaling for a count of four. As you become accustomed to this breathing exercise, you can increase the count to six or eight per breath. Equal breathing helps improve focus, reduce stress, and calm your nervous system.
- Abdominal Breathing—Abdominal breathing helps increase oxygen in the body, increasing alertness. Your lung capacity will increase as you continue practicing this type of breathing. Breathe deeply through your nose, inflating your diaphragm for abdominal breathing. Then, slowly exhale, pushing all air out of your lungs. These are calm, slow breathing exercises. The goal is to take six to ten deep breaths each minute. Continue practicing this ten-minute exercise to reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
- Alternate Nostril Breathing –This technique equalizes the oxygen both sides of your brain receive. To begin, gently press and pinch your right nostril to close it off. Breathe deeply through your left nostril. Then, open your right nostril up and close your left nostril with your finger, exhaling through your left nostril.
Mindfulness in the Workplace
Mindfulness can increase productivity in the workplace. You can do meditation, yoga, and mindfulness during lunchtime to help recharge and renew your energy levels. Companies across America are beginning to realize the numerous benefits and have started offering these onsite. Employee participation increases productivity and helps employees from different departments interact with each other.
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation is a great way to get started practicing mindfulness. There are numerous apps and other online resources that can help you start practicing meditation. Guided meditation can be used at the start of your day to increase your energy levels, self-confidence, and productivity. At night, guided meditation can help you relax and have a better night’s sleep.
If you are unsure about how to start practicing meditation, you are not alone. In the beginning, most people have difficulty staying on task. In the beginning, try meditating for five to ten minutes a day. The main thing is to keep practicing. As you become more accustomed to practicing meditation, you will be able to meditate for longer periods of time.
How We Can Help?
There are various benefits of mindfulness. Our team of holistic health practitioners understands the importance of balancing the mind and body. We will work with you to develop a stress relief program that includes dietary modifications, supplementation, mindfulness, and meditation. This will help improve your health and well-being.
