Mindfulness is something that is thrown around all over the news and recent research. Yoga studios are popping up everywhere, and people are focusing more on being “mindful,” sometimes without knowing what that means.
To be mindful means to bring something into your awareness, and living more in the moment, versus focusing on the past or future. To me, this is a very difficult thing to do, especially in our current society with access to social media, unlimited commitments and constant demands.
Try these tips to make yourself more mindful, and perhaps calm your household down a bit.
- Spend 1 minute when you first wake up to think about something you are grateful for, or something you are looking forward to that day.
- Throughout the day, pay attention to breathing for 10 seconds. Are you breathing fast or slow? Can you control your breathing?
- Try to focus on one thing at a time, you may be more efficient if you do 10 things back to back, than trying to do 10 things at once.
- Put your phone down when you are home with your children, if even for 20 minutes when you are eating dinner or putting them to bed.
- Be conscious of your stress level, if you can calm yourself, calmness will surround you
- Organize your day, knowing the plan of what is to come will help you focus on your goal
- Spend a few minutes at the end of the day, before bed when everything is quiet to reflect on your breathing, and think about the events you are grateful for.
This may sound a little far fetched, but research is pointing in the direction of being mindful helping reduce stress and increase positive brain chemicals, increasing overall health and longevity.
Contact me for a private family consultation.
Katie Gately
Behaved Brain Wellness Center
Healthier Kids – Happier Parents
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