Blog: You're Closer to Mindfulness Than You Think!

Practicing mindfulness can reduce distractions, alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression, and can help you feel less overwhelmed

Do you ever just stop and breathe? When the world is chaotic, everything feels overwhelming, and the sensory overload just floods every sense that you have, and you just… breathe. Eyes closed, feeling the air fill your chest, and having that sensation of everything bothering you flowing outward as you exhale. When you open your eyes again, you’re calm, clear, collected, and ready to take the next step.

These little “reset” moments are a key part of practicing mindfulness, and the benefits of incorporating them into your day can be surprisingly helpful.

You may think that you are just calming yourself down so that you can get through the situation, and that is definitely part of it. What you’re also doing is training your brain to react to situations with thought, rather than just a knee-jerk reaction. A mindful state lets you think faster with an unclouded mind, and it’s easier to get to that state than you might think.

We all fall into these mental ruts where you’re working on one thing, thinking about another, drifting towards distractions, and ultimately failing to accomplish anything. We assume we can multi-task and complete several tasks at once, but research shows that this is a myth. Our brains are actually just switching from one responsibility to the next, and failing to achieve much depth or efficiency with every switch. We’re better off focusing on one thing at a time, and then intentionally shifting that focus when needed. Easier said than done, right? Well, with some practice, a mindful state makes this attainable.

Learn the basics of mindfulness with the help of Amber Miskovich from The Wonder Within

For starters, try to keep your mind focused on whatever you’re doing in that moment. It could be brushing your teeth, for example. Picture the bristles sweeping over your teeth and gums. Really think about the way your toothpaste tastes. Dig your toes into the bathmat you’re standing on. You’ll find yourself 100 percent in the moment, and you’ll enjoy the feeling of calm that comes with it.

Subtle reminders are a helpful way to jump into that mindset, be it a sticky note on your desk, a reminder on your phone, or a buddy telling you to stop and feel. It doesn’t take deep meditation or incense, just keep trying it until it becomes habit.

Mindful means you’re in the here-and-now, embracing the present, shutting out distractions, and embracing your environment without judgment. Everyone can benefit from being more mindful, and the opportunities to practice are endless and universally available.