5 ways to incorporate mindfulness in your daily life
Something that the COVID-19 pandemic taught us is that mental health is as important as physical health.
It is vital to take care of your mental health in challenging times to better cope with stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future.
And this is true in your personal and professional life. For example, according to Forbes, meditation and other mindfulness techniques are now essential business tools. Something that every employer should consider.
The good news is that you don’t have to sit on the floor for hours like a Buddhist monk to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness can easily become part of your daily life, whether at work or not.
You will be surprised by how tiny changes can make a huge impact on your mental health and overall wellbeing.
Let’s see what you can do to incorporate mindfulness in your days.
1. Build a morning routine
Having a set morning routine is a great way to kick start your day with the right mindset. It could be having a guided 10 minutes meditation as soon as you wake up, start a journaling practice or have a gentle yoga session first thing in the morning. Building a routine and sticking to it is clinically proven to be effective for anxiety and stress reduction. It also dramatically improves motivation and productivity. Think about it. It could be your best companion in times of uncertainty.
2. Practice mindful eating
Would you believe that your lunch break is an excellent time to practice mindfulness?
For example, the app Headspace offers easy, on-demand guided meditation for mindful eating.
When you practice mindful eating, you can engage all five senses during the experience, focusing on the present moment and keeping your racing thoughts at bay.
In addition, by practicing mindful eating, you will also have a deeper appreciation of the food you eat and how it nourishes your precious body.
3. Breathe to lower your stress levels
A simple breathing exercise can change your day.
Science found that intentional and consistent breathing exercises lower the chemicals in your brain responsible for stress signals. Moreover, it improves “feel-good hormones” like serotonin.
If you find yourself in a middle of a busy, stressful day at work, taking a step back to do a breathing exercise might be exactly what you need. It is like pressing the reset button. You will feel refreshed, calmer, and ready to move on with your day.
4. Breathe to improve your focus
There are so many benefits from taking a step back to breathe – properly breathe – for a minute (or more!). Lowering stress levels is just one of them.
However, a short breathing exercise is also a great tool to improve your focus and productivity at work. When you anchor yourself to the breath, you will feel more concentrated.
5. Mindful bedtime
As for the morning, it is great to have a mindful bedtime routine. By doing so, your brain knows what to expect; you don’t have to decide anything. Therefore, you will have more energy and mental space to dedicate yourself to what makes you feel good. For example, try a guided meditation to switch off after a busy day or simply applying your favorite skincare products engaging the five senses and appreciating every small detail.
If you want to learn more ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine at home and at work, I am here for you.
I would be honored to guide you or your employees in your wellness journey. Together, we can build a personalized plan to start incorporating mindfulness into your daily life. If you are willing to give it a try, I promise that consistent mindfulness practice will change your outlook on life. And when you are better equipped to cope with the uncertainty of the future, thanks to mindfulness, maybe combined with private yoga sessions, everything will feel lighter.
I am available as a private yoga teacher and mindfulness coach in Monaco, Sophia Antipolis, and surrounding areas, or in form of online consultation.
Contact me here for an introductory consultation.
