By Martha Livingston, PhD, LPC
In the technology-saturated world that we live in, it can be easy to let our minds run a million miles a minute, from thinking about all of the things that need to be done to stressing about things that have happened, and then anxiety sets in. The practice of mindfulness sounds simple; it’s the ability to be fully present and attuned to where we are in that exact moment. It can be increasingly difficult to be mindful when we have busy schedules, work deadlines, overwhelming thoughts, and the unknowns that have arrived with COVID.
Incorporating mindfulness into daily life is easier than most people imagine. It can be done in a wide range of ways; it could be as simple as a couple of brief minutes or a full meditation session. There are so many ways to practice.
Some of those include:
– Go for a walk
– Notice your breathing, take slow, controlled breaths
– Listen to a favorite song – notice how it makes you feel
– Stretch your muscles – which muscles are feeling tense?
– Download a mindfulness app
– Set your intention for the day
Many mindfulness practices are completely free and can be done anywhere at any time! It is something I practice daily and incorporate with my clients on a regular basis. That’s one of the things I love most about this practice; mindfulness is not a special added change, this is an ability that we all have, and it does not require anyone to change their beliefs or who they are. It is so universal.
Give it a try! Take 5 minutes to practice mindfulness each day and notice how it makes you feel!
Originally published in San Antonio Woman Magazine and online here: https://sawoman.com/2021/03/mindfulness-matters/
