Has anyone ever told you that you should practice mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your attention and awareness to the present moment without evaluating or judging it. It’s thought to help manage stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improve self-esteem, the ability to relax, and outlook on life. Some may find that it makes coping with serious illness easier too. Being mindful doesn’t happen on its own though, so what can you do to practice it throughout the day?

Pay Attention to Your Breathing

Paying attention to your breathing can be a great way to start practicing mindfulness. As you give attention to your breath, you direct your focus to a specific thing that you become more aware of. That awareness without judgment is key to mindfulness. 

Focus on the natural rhythm of your breath. How does it feel when you inhale and exhale? How deep does your breath go? What do you feel moving? How does breathing make you feel? The experience can be meditative, something that has also proven to benefit mental health.

Do Yoga

Yoga is another great way to practice mindfulness. As you practice yoga, bring your attention to your breath, your balance, and the muscles you activate to move through the asanas. Notice how you feel physically and mentally. 

Doing yoga regularly can help you notice when you’re stressed. Practicing yoga can help you feel what it’s like to feel relaxed physically and mentally, making it easier to identify those times when you aren’t.

Practice Mindful Eating

Even something as simple as eating can be done mindfully. In fact, mindful eating is thought to promote a healthy relationship with food. To practice mindful eating, use all your senses to experience your food. Chew slowly to fully experience the textures on your tongue and between your teeth. Savor the different flavors and try to identify different ingredients by taste. Smell the food as you bring it to your mouth. See and appreciate all the different colors on your plate. Listen to the sounds that accompany your meal. As you engage more of your senses while you eat, you’ll appreciate the meal more. You’ll also eat more slowly, which can help you digest your food better.

Mindfulness can be highly beneficial, but it’s more of a learned skill than an innate one for most people. Practice mindfulness daily to improve your abilities in this area. Be patient with yourself too. It takes time to rework how your brain processes information. With time, patience, and consistent effort, you should see improvements in both your mindfulness and other areas of mental health.

Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read: Understanding Behavioural Responses to Trauma