Mindfulness-HELP! Where do I start?
Mindfulness seems to be a trending concept as of late. But what does it mean exactly? Simply put, it’s just taking some time to slow down and check in with yourself and your surroundings. We are often overstimulated throughout the day from constant interaction with our smart phones, to sitting in meetings, listening to lectures, playing video games, talking to friends, and taking care of kids. How can we know how we’re feeling or what we’re thinking if our brain is overloaded by all this input? By taking the time to practice self-awareness, you can give yourself the opportunity to explore what kind of environments make you feel stressed, which people in your life help you feel encouraged, and what types of noises put you on edge. Without this awareness, we can often feel anxious “for no reason”, moody, or just straight up drained. Take some time today to settle in with your mind and body. This can even be a two-minute activity.
Find a quiet place (even if that looks like taking a trip to the bathroom!) and close your eyes. Start from your head and move down to your toes identifying sensations, discomforts, and observations. “My head feels heavy on my shoulders”, “My heart seems to be beating quickly”, “I can feel my feet planted on the floor”. Practice this exercise a few times when you are feeling regulated. The next time you feel overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious, try checking in with yourself. Are your muscles tense or relaxed? Do you feel like crying or like your emotions are shut down? Are you fidgety and restless? Practicing this awareness and identification of how we are feeling-both physically and emotionally-is a great first step in regulating our emotions when we are in uncomfortable or stressful environments. Take a look at my blog on Stimulating vs Regulating Coping Skills to determine how to take action with this new skill!
If you’d like more practical tools on implementing mindfulness in your daily routine, check out this article on Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/design-your-path/201504/simple-ways-be-more-present-in-our-everyday-lives
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