Health and wellness gurus worldwide are preaching on the importance of mindfulness in your daily routine. The practice of mindfulness is often associated with yoga and meditation and is pretty straightforward. It means your mind is fully aware of what’s going on and your surroundings.

If your mind is fully aware, you are fully present in life or living “consciously“.

What Exactly is Mindfulness?

The art of mindfulness all stems from being fully aware and present in your day to day routine. Mindfulness is not some special ability you have to learn to access, we all possess it already as humans. The key is learning how to access it for your own mental and physical health (the mind-body connection).

Mindfulness is the human ability to become fully aware and present in what we are doing, avoiding being overwhelmed by our surroundings

Think of mindfulness as the ability to slow down and take everything in. This is why yoga and meditation are the number one techniques for cultivating mindfulness.

Mindful Vs. Mind Full

mindful vs. mind full drawing
Source: SRWC Recovery & Wellness Centre

Practicing mindfulness helps relieve stress, calms anxiety, improves insight, and enhances everyday performance. Think of it as giving your brain a break from the millions of thoughts constantly running their course through your mind.

It is the simple human ability to become fully aware and present in what we are doing while avoiding being overwhelmed by our surroundings.

Signs you should practice mindfulness more often:

  • Your mind is always racing
  • You get stress headaches
  • You have a short temper
  • Stress is a common thing for you
  • You have a “cup half empty”
  • Time is against you and running out
  • You feel fatigued often
  • You can’t keep up with yourself
  • Complaining is common for you

Mindfulness is More Than a Practice

Yoga and meditation serve as cultivation techniques and are the most common form of practicing mindfulness. Incorporating the importance of mindfulness into your lifestyle is the most beneficial. This incorporation is commonly referred to as conscious living.

Conscious living is simply living with an awareness of how your everyday choices impact your wellbeing (mental and physical). From every breathe you take to every food you put in your body, mindfulness should be present.

How Can You Live Mindfully?

mindful living

Living consciously and being mindful in all the choices you make will provide you with a greater understanding of health. Your overall wellness is not only physical which is why it is important to start with mindfulness.

1.) Consume Consciously

Enjoy every bite of food you take, decide if you are actually hungry (or if it’s just a midnight craving), consume foods that will benefit you (whole foods that come from the earth), and aim for nutrient-dense foods.

2.) Remember to Breathe

Breathing provides our brains with oxygen which is essential to proper functioning. The oxygen also eliminates waste and toxins from your body.

Don’t forget to take at least one grounding breath a day. Breathe deeply and fully.

3.) Keep Your Thoughts Organized

Consider getting a calendar to keep your thoughts organized. If you think of something you need to do, write it down! Try to avoid having one million things on your mind at once.

4.) Practice Yoga and Meditation

Becoming aware of your body and how you feel is essential in mindfulness. Meditation is a mental exercise that allows you to cope with thoughts and feelings. Yoga allows you to get moving and see what areas of your body need love.

5 Minute Breathing Meditation

5.) Reserve Time for Yourself

Self-care is greatly important in your well-being. Don’t be afraid to take time to yourself and slow down with a book or a candlelit bath. Spending time with yourself allows you to observe how you are feeling mentally and physically.

Spread the wellness!