Mindfulness has a way of improving your life in many ways. For instance, mindfulness enhances your mind and body by reducing stress, improving your ability to fight off illnesses, decreasing recovery times, minimizing symptoms of depression, and improving your overall health. Of course, you cannot simply make the decision to be mindful and hope for the best. Instead, you need to practice mindfulness techniques.
5 Techniques to Try
If you are interested in developing your sense of mindfulness, you should try the following 5 techniques:
- Be more aware. Your level of awareness cultivates your level of mindfulness. Increase your awareness so you learn to appreciate more in life day-to-day. You can become more aware by focusing on things you typically take for granted and appreciating them more. Open your ears and ears and really hear and see the world around you so that you appreciate what life offers you.
- Be more observant. Take the time to observe your surroundings. If you are one of those people who rushes through your life with your head down, you have no idea what you’re missing. You could be missing out on some incredible opportunities in life. Take the scenic route to work or opt to walk or ride your bike rather than driving your car when possible so you can observe more of the world.
- Breathe deeply. Believe it or not, the way you breathe can improve how mindful you are. Meditation can have a powerful impact on your mind and body, thereby increasing your level of mindfulness. Of all the mindfulness techniques, this is the one that puts your most in tune with your inner self so you can be more aware of what your mind and body need to feel happy and healthy.
- Explore more often. Take the chance to explore your surroundings more often. You can do this by going on a hike, taking a walk on a nearby trail, or biking down a mountain bike trail. Too many people remain indoors with their faces buried in the screen of a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or TV. Getting out, breathing in some fresh air, and exploring nature can improve your sense of mindfulness.
- Immerse yourself in tasks. It only makes sense to want to rush through daily tasks, chores, and routines. They become monotonous to the point that it is near frustrating. Fortunately, you can improve your sense of mindfulness by immersing yourself in your tasks. Rather than looking at them as a burden, take the time to experience them, as though for the first time. You will become more aware of your thoughts and actions by doing so, which will help you handle your tasks more efficiently.
The wonderful thing about mindfulness techniques is that they do not take up a lot of your time. You can still do what you do each day. Instead, you are just changing how you see, hear, feel, and react to the environment around you.
What Can It Help With?
Improving how mindful you are can lead to significant positive changes in your life. Mindfulness improves your physical health, specifically the following:
- Reduction of chronic pain
- Improvements to sleep habits
- Reduction of gastrointestinal issues
- Reduction in blood pressure
- Reduction in the chances of developing heart disease
It can also improve your mental health by acting as a treatment solution to the following issues:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Eating disorders
If you feel that the mindfulness techniques given are not working for you, speak to a therapist. A therapist can assist you in finding techniques that best work for you. Also, a therapist can help you find reasons how and why mindfulness may improve certain aspects of your life. Make an appointment with a therapist today to learn more about the benefits of mindfulness.
Monica Ramunda is a solution-focused therapist with an office located in Louisville, Colorado for in-office visits. With a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and more than 18 years experience in therapy and counseling, Monica works as both a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) with adults and children respectively. Much of Monica’s success is based on her eclectic orientation and drawing on a wide range of different approaches and techniques all while remaining strongly grounded in the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT).
