Practicing mindfulness has many benefits on our mental and physical health. Some of the mental health benefits include: stress reduction, decreased flooding of thoughts, increase in memory and focus, increased ability to regulate and manage difficult emotions, and increased satisfaction in relationships. Some of the health benefits include: increased immune system functioning, decrease blood pressure, increase heart health, improve sleep quality, improved gastro-intestinal functioning, and reduce chronic pain.
Mindfulness is an active choice we make when we connect with the current moment, and allow the past and future to slip away. This might sound like an impossible task, however there are exercises that allow us to practice bringing out attention to the current moment.
Allow the emotions you might be feeling to come to the surface
Practice self-compassion
Create a mantra/affirmation
- I am strong, I am brave.
- I am safe, I am protected.
- One step at a time
- Just Breathe
- I am OK, I am safe, I am healthy.
- Easy does it
- I am whole, I am complete, I am loved.
5 Senses
Going for a mindful walk
Breathing
Yoga
Bubbles
Gratitude
Colouring
Mindful Eating
Recorded Guided Meditation
It is important to remember that mindfulness is a practice, not something to be mastered. It is a tool we can use to grow our coping techniques that we can add to our tool box. While some days, one technique might be helpful, the next time we might need something else to ease our minds, and that is OK. As you practice mindfulness, remember to have FUN. Explore, create, and discover what works for YOU. Be kind, be patient, and always be compassionate to yourself and those around you. We are all in this together.