‘Mindfulness’ is a buzzword in the wellness community and can seem daunting for the ordinary person. However, mindfulness can be easily practiced by us all when we consider what it really means: living in the present moment and paying real attention to it.
We all tend to rush through life – mindfulness is about slowing down for a minute instead of always projecting towards the future.
Professor Mark Williams from the Oxford Mindfulness Centre says mindfulness is truly seeing what is happening moment by moment, both inside and outside of ourselves.
We love the description of mindfulness he provides:
“It’s easy to stop noticing the world around us. It’s also easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living ‘in our heads’ – caught up in our thoughts without stopping to notice how those thoughts are driving our emotions and behaviour,” he says.
“An important part of mindfulness is reconnecting with our bodies and the sensations they experience. This means waking up to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the present moment. That might be something as simple as the feel of a banister as we walk upstairs.”
Our top tips for the ordinary person’s mindfulness would be:
- Enjoy the everyday
Noticing and appreciating the little everyday things is a wonderful and easy way to be mindful, and make you realise the small things in life that bring you joy.
- Try and stick to a set time
To realistically incorporate mindfulness, it can be useful to set aside a set time every day to try and be mindful in some way. This might be first thing in the morning, during your morning coffee break, or just before you go to bed at night.
Equally, however, don’t force the practice. Allow little things to surprise you and remind you to live in the moment – whether that’s spotting something in nature, closing your eyes and enjoying your favourite song, or really appreciating the moment as you laugh and engage with loved ones.
- Try different things
Mindfulness is about being aware of your mental and physical feelings and sensations. Whether that’s really recognising your emotional state, sitting and appreciating the flavours of a meal, enjoying the natural world during a walk through the park, or closing your eyes and enjoying being still and silent.
Different people find different forms of mindfulness work most effectively for them, so be open to trying different methods and seeing what suits you.
- Assess your emotions
Really ask yourself how you’re really feeling in the moment. Assess your mental and physical sensations and think about what makes you feel like this and why, and use this to make changes if needs be in order to be happier and more at ease.
Mindfulness is for everyone and can be in whatever form you like! Here at Camford Medicals, we care about your overall health and wellbeing – mindfulness included. Why not check out our health screening packages or other blogs on wellness to see the support and resources we’ve shared!