Bringing Mindfulness Into Your Daily life

It can take some time and effort to really get the hang of mindfulness but there are some exercises you can incorporate into your routine every day to help you. It is best to set yourself up for success and begin practising mindfulness when you are in a positive frame of mind and don’t have too much going on. This way you can get into a habit of using it without added stress making it more difficult. Introducing yourself to mindfulness will help you in the long run for when times get stressful and can prevent you from becoming completely overwhelmed.

Being aware of yourself and your emotions is incredibly beneficial. It helps you to fully enjoy the good times and also to handle the bad times calmly and much more effectively. It helps you to see situations more clearly and centre your mind. So, here are a few ways in which you can practice mindfulness every day and introduce yourself to the concept:

1. Ground yourself:
   Be aware of your surroundings and focus on what you can hear, see, smell and touch. You can do this at any point during the day no matter where you are. Use something to centre yourself such as a small trinket or even a table. Press your hands down onto the surface and feel the temperature, the texture and how it feels on your skin. This engages your senses and allows you to be fully aware of them.
   

2. Breath:
   We get told about the importance of breathing all the time and we still tend to take it for granted. We all know that deep breaths can help calm us down but how many of us actually do this? Try to take some time to really focus on your breathing. Feel the air coming in and feel the air going out. This will also allow you to engage your senses and bring you into the present moment.
   

3. Be present:
   Just being present is a huge part of mindfulness, living in the moment is the aim. How can we enjoy life if we are constantly worried or thinking about something else instead of enjoying the here and now? If you feel that your mind has drifted work on bringing yourself back to the present moment. You can use grounding or you can simply remind yourself. What’s important is that you find a way that works for you.
   

4. Check in:
   Making a habit of checking in on yourself can be a real help. Make a conscious effort to be aware. If your mind wanders, as it does with everyone, focus on your surroundings and on yourself.

During boring tasks our minds tend to wander off, this is why it can be helpful to try out mindfulness techniques during these times. This could be during your journey to school or work, while brushing your teeth or hair and so on. These are ideal times for you to practice getting mindfulness into your daily life. Catch yourself when your mind drifts and actively bring yourself into the present moment. Try to embrace each moment of the day, good or bad. It is perfectly fine to plan and think and feel, in fact it is necessary and very important. What mindfulness does is allow you to think, feel, and experience life in the present without allowing your emotions to completely consume and remove you from the present moment. So, why not try and include mindfulness into your daily routine and see if it can help you?