Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we’re doing without being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is happening around us.
Mindfulness has some immense benefits: it reduces fatigue, lowers stress, restores emotional balance, reduces anxiety and depression, increases resilience, slows aging, improves concentration, reduces physical pain, boosts mental health, and improves sleep quality.
This is what makes mindfulness attractive, and people are now beginning to ask, “What are some ways to practice mindfulness?”
Top 5 Ways to Practice Mindfulness
Here are the top five ways to practice mindfulness:
Breathe
Start breathing, but let your breath be strong, deep, and slow. Ensure your belly moves up and down as you breathe. Observe what happens as you inhale and exhale. Acknowledge your thoughts as they come. Allow those thoughts to be, and then go. Don’t worry if your mind wanders during the process. Just acknowledge where it has moved to and refocus on your breath.
Do the Dishes
Want an easy way to practice mindfulness? Wash the dishes. Dishwashing will free your mind from negative thoughts if you do it mindfully. It’ll help you focus on the senses at the moment, namely the smell of the soap, the coldness or warmth of the water against your skin, the feel of the dishes in your hands, the sights, and even the sounds. Mindful dishwashing is known to increase calmness, reduce stress, decrease nervousness, and boost mental inspiration.
Take a Shower
Don’t just take a shower; take it mindfully. As you take the shower, feel the taste of the water, the water against your skin, and the smell of the soap. Is the water cold, hot, or just okay? Watch and listen as the water touches your skin and falls off. Then touch the skin to see what it feels like, whether the action is nurturing, uncomfortable, familiar, or strange. Decide if you need more or less. Then take note of your feelings.
Eat Mindfully
Eat mindfully. Focus on eating. Smell the food, touch it, and feel it in your body. Don’t get distracted by the people around you; be fully present. Avoid talking to anyone. Don’t worry about the things you have to do after eating. Notice your thoughts and feelings as you eat to see if you feel nourished, emotionally comfortable, happy, secure, warmth, guilt, or sadness, but don’t judge your thoughts or feelings. It’s just to notice them.
Take a Mindful Walk
Usually, we walk without thinking about what we’re doing, but it makes sense to bring awareness into it, even though it’s automatic. So, take a mindful walk if you want to practice mindfulness. To do this, you need to focus your attention on it. Feel the ground as you walk. Engage your senses as you do it. Take note of what it feels like. Observe the sights, sounds, smells, and feels of the world as you move.
So, the top five ways to practice mindfulness include breathing, doing the dishes, taking a shower, eating mindfully, and taking a mindful walk. We hope this answers your question, “What are some ways to practice mindfulness?”
How CCHC Can Help
The Center for Connection, Healing, and Change is always there for you to help you practice mindfulness so you can enjoy a healthier, longer, and happier life.
Our therapists are skilled and experienced in self-care. Schedule a free consultation with us today or call us at (703) 878-3290. You can also visit our offices at 12751 Marblestone Drive, Suite 200, Woodbridge, VA 22192 or at 10640 Page Avenue, Suite 230, Fairfax, VA 22030 if you’re in Virginia and need help with starting a workable mindfulness routine.