What does mindfulness mean? Is it just another buzzword that has come around in the past few years, or can it be an asset to your life? Let’s discover how to practice mindfulness every day.

In short, being mindful is being aware, being in the moment, and not multitasking or doing other things that distract you from what you’re doing right now. Mindfulness is the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. (Oxford Dictionary) We observe what we are doing and do not overly react or feel overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

Mindfulness is something even though it exists within us but requires daily practice.  You’re being mindful whenever you bring awareness to your state of mind and your thoughts and emotions.

Multitasking Lifestyle

So many of my friends say they can’t run without listening to music. For me, when I think of running I love the act of it, it helps me to destress, I have a chance to clear my mind and focus on breathing. You wouldn’t believe how many problems I solve just by running and being in my thoughts, thinking through different situations, and just letting my mind wander. 

I come back from a great run, and it seems like I’ve solved all the world’s problems.

Eating tends to be another activity that gets overlooked and pushed to the wayside. We’ve all been guilty of watching TV or scrolling Facebook or emails while inhaling lunch and then realizing we didn’t even taste our food, with no recollection of the texture. Let alone the colors or smell.  

Even if you are reading or listening to something, is it like the other ear is focused on something else entirely for fear of missing out or not getting the to-do list done fast enough?

We are all guilty of not being fully present in the moment or with the people in front of us. The good news is there are ways to correct this and live with more daily joy.

Why is Mindfulness Important?

It’s important because you will remember what the experience was like, and the experience is what we all crave. 

Otherwise, we could pop a pill and be done with most things. Same with the exercise, pop a tablet, and I’m in shape. Some people may wish for that. But what happens if you pay attention to that one thing? It will change your experience. It will change how you feel about it. It will change how you think about eating instead of just shoveling the food down and then afterward saying, “Oh, my goodness, I don’t even know what I ate.”

4 Things To Know About Mindfulness

1. You don’t need to change. You focus on what you already are doing well and emphasize those points.
2. Anyone can do it. You don’t have to be a Buddha or a higher being to practice mindfulness. It’s already inside of you.
3. It’s a way of living. Being present and aware reduces unwanted stress and helps us live better. A  little is better than nothing.
4. Both science and experience demonstrate their positive benefits for our health, happiness, work, and relationships.

Discover How To Practice Mindfulness Every Day

1. Create A Plan Of Action

The first step is to pick a thing or area of your life that you need to improve upon and be more present and mindful of.  

Do you eat from all the food groups? Do you have lots of vegetables, vibrant colors, and “Eat the rainbow,” or do you grab whatever, slap the meal together, and go? Maybe at the grocery store, you grab one of those plastic containers, hopefully recyclable, and you munch something down, and you don’t even know what was in there because you didn’t prepare it, but you don’t even know what you ate?

Instead, plan your meals and ask if it has a lean protein, and non-processed carbohydrates or the least amount of processed carbohydrates, plus some healthy fats.

I love a sandwich for lunch, but I choose whole-grain bread from my local bakery with no additives. Usually, I buy a sliced whole loaf and freeze it so that every day, I can take two pieces out or one-piece, depending on the day, and eat one of those. So you have eaten, mindfully, from all your food groups in the sense of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. That is having a plan.

2. Slow Down

Slow down and put the brakes on. You don’t need to live your life as a speed competition trying to do the hardest endurance workout in the shortest time or throwing down as much food as you can in 15 minutes. 

If you stop speeding through everything, your body, mind (and gut!) will be happier. Chew your food. You will feel more relaxed enjoying what the food represents to you. Exercise your body and mind without distraction. 

Slow down with your family members and loved ones and see how much it can help nurture your connections to be fully present and mindful. 

3. Make You A Priority

Mindfulness is amazing because it gives the power back to you to take control of your life. It’s not about working as fast as possible or doing what everyone around you is asking of you right now.  That’s where we discover the power of mindfulness today.

Ask yourself what it is that you want to do at this given time and how much you want to do. That doesn’t mean you’re not getting things done, but you’re slowing the process down with a plan of action and, of course, with mindfulness, keeping you, the person in mind, in charge of what it is that you want right now.

I don’t enjoy swimming yet make an effort to do it two times a week. If I’m super busy, instead of the 2000 yards I had planned, I may do 1000 yards, and that’s okay. I narrow it down to what I can do so I don’t feel stressed. I don’t have to multitask. I don’t have to cut myself short. 

You don’t need to do so much all at once. Take time to pay attention to what it is you’re doing.

Now I’m off to enjoy my cup of Chai Tea with full mindfulness. I’d love for you to tell me what you could do more mindfully.

And remember, we’re creating experiences. We’re creating moments that mean something, moments that help us de-stress and nurture our mind and body.