{"id":1268,"date":"2017-05-05T15:52:00","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T15:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/?p=1268"},"modified":"2022-01-28T14:36:37","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T14:36:37","slug":"5-easy-ways-to-be-more-mindful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2017\/05\/05\/5-easy-ways-to-be-more-mindful\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Easy Ways to Be More Mindful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Being mindful is an important part of a happy, healthy existence; and it\u2019s a pretty simple concept: being mindful is essentially paying attention. Without it, it\u2019s easy to become someone that life is simply happening to, instead of a person who is living life to the fullest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By becoming more mindful, you can learn to appreciate what you have and the world around you, take in the small moments, and have full, true, and meaningful experiences. Too often we are overwhelmed with thoughts or to-do lists and forget to be aware of what\u2019s going on around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you need more convincing, being mindful also has health benefits, like decreasing stress and anxiety. It can also help you relax and become that much closer to the relationships in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 5 ways to start being more mindful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Be more aware.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step for being more mindful is just being more aware of your surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the next time you take the dog for a walk, don\u2019t bring your phone to make a call or text you\u2019ve been meaning to make. Instead, look around and appreciate nature around. Take in the fresh air and the sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another example is that when you\u2019re out to eat \u2013 or just having dinner at home \u2013 put down the electronics and mindfully enjoy your meal. Allow your senses to take over as you see, smell, and truly taste what you are fueling your body with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Put. Down. The. Phone.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a society, I don\u2019t have to tell you how obsessed we are with our electronics. It\u2019s hard to even have a face-to-face conversation with anyone these days without someone having to check their phone for whatever reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unplug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And refresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a recent vacation, I forgot my phone in the room where I was staying when we went out to explore the city. While at first it was a little stressful, it ended up being extremely liberating and I was able to take in the sights and stay off my phone. (Sidenote: everyone I was with had their phones, so that is important in case of an emergency!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The point is: do what you can to unplug a little more. Don\u2019t look at a screen an hour before you go to bed if you can avoid it and try to limit your overall screen time if you find yourself constantly in front of one. It\u2019s easy to scroll through Facebook or Pinterest, but it\u2019s also mind numbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Meditate.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No, you don\u2019t have to become a monk or go through any sort of formal training in order to learn how to meditate. Take 10 minutes or so to sit in a quiet room in a relaxed, comfortable position. Then follow the same rules as yoga: try to clear your mind, but if it wanders, that\u2019s ok. Simply clear it again and just try to relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of apps and web resources that will also help with meditation tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If meditating just isn\u2019t your thing\u2026that\u2019s ok, too. Try to do a quiet activity as often as you can \u2013 once a day if possible! Try 10 or 15 minutes of yoga or simply taking a bath. For some people, running, swimming, or other cardio is a great chance to refresh your brain by thinking of nothing at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Listen to your body.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A lot of what it is to be mindful is also to be self-reflective. Learn to do body scans and listen to your body and what it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you may have more physical needs. You may notice that you\u2019ve been getting headaches after a second cup of coffee, so it\u2019s time to limit yourself to one a day. Or perhaps you\u2019re feeling achy when you first wake up, so you take some extra time to do some light stretching and drink extra water throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many times, listening to your body may be more of a mental state. Maybe you just feel \u201cicky\u201d all of a sudden; so you decide to take a short walk outside or change your surroundings. Or perhaps you find yourself a little angry and, when you think about it, you realize something a friend said yesterday really bothered you; so you decide to reach out to that person and talk through your differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening to your body\u2019s needs will go far on the road to better mindfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Remind yourself.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remember that mindfulness is a habit most of us have not yet acquired. It\u2019s a skill that takes time and practice, so give yourself a break and don\u2019t expect results right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on what works for you, give yourself little reminders to be more mindful. For some, you may want to leave a sticky note for yourself on the mirror to say \u201cBe mindful today.\u201d<\/em> For others, you may just need to give yourself little subconscious queues throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter what you need to do to remind yourself to be mindful, remember that it\u2019s a journey to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Being more mindful is a personal initiative I\u2019ve tried to take in my own life of late. It\u2019s helped me already to take situations in stride and become more aware of my body\u2019s physical and emotional well being.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n <\/div>\n By Nicki Ong<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n