5 Simple Ways to Practice Mindfulness Everyday

There are many benefits to practicing mindfulness; it increases thoughtfulness, promotes grounding, helps to manage emotions, and helps ease anxiety. You may be wondering how something that promises so many benefits can truly be that simple… but I promise you it is, and I am going to tell you 5 ways I incorporate mindfulness practice into my days, so you can to!

Set an Intention

In this context, setting an intention is a commitment you are making to yourself for the day. Some examples could be “today I will enjoy my creativity”, or “today I will be open to new opportunities”, or “today I will stay present in the moment” or, “today I will drink more water”. To help get you started, when you are trying to create your intentions, it could be helpful to ask yourself questions like:

• How can I be my best self today?
• How can I make healthier choices?
• What would help me to feel more connected to myself and those around me?
• What am I grateful for and how can I show it?

It is best to do this in the morning before you interact with anyone or engage with any digital devices (aka, leave your phone alone!) Proceed to check in with yourself throughout the day to see if you are following through with your intention(s); over time you will notice this will become a habit and you will no longer need to think about.

Suggested: Simple Meditation: Turn your Day Around in Just 3 minutes , 5 Simple Ways to Feel More Motivated

Live in the Moment

It can be so easy to get caught up in the midst of your day and begin to stress about things that aren’t even happening yet. This creates a cycle of stress and anxiety that is not only not necessary, but also hard to break. Avoid this by practicing mindfulness and bringing an intentional and accepting attention to everything you do. This can be as simple as focusing on every sip of your morning tea. Focusing on the steam on your face, the warmth of the beverage in your mouth, the notes of flavor; but this does not always have to be recreational or relaxing in nature–bring this type of singular attention to your work, and watch how your productivity increases, and your stress decreases.

Focus on your Breathing

Try to take time out of your day to sit in silence and focus on your breathing. Take this time to check in with yourself and see how you are feeling. Have you been following through on your daily intentions?

Go for a Mindfulness Walk

Going for a mindfulness walk is one of the best things to do when you need a reset. A mindfulness walk is the same as a regular walk, except on a mindfulness walk the goal is to not let your mind wander and go on “auto-pilot”. Focus on the sensation of the ground on your feet. Are there crunchy leaves on the ground? Sand? Gravel? Focus on how it feels, how it sounds. Is it windy? Sunny? Is the air sweet? Take it all in. Feel connected to your surroundings, feel connected to the earth. Forest bathing is another great mindfulness practice to re-charge and refresh yourself.

Accept Yourself

I would say this is the most important component to practicing mindfulness. Accept yourself–treat yourself the way you would treat a good friend. Recognize that we all have flaws, quirks, and bad days.