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How to practise mindfulness

The demands of daily life pull us in many different directions — and cause stress.

We may not be able to control the events around us. But we can control how we react.

The reason certain situations create stress is because they bring up feelings from the past, cause us to project into the future, or play on our fears of the unknown. Staying in the present moment during a stressful time can help us respond appropriately. It’s called mindfulness.

How can mindfulness help you?

  • Navigate change with more ease
  • Build resilience
  • Have more energy
  • Make room for new ideas
  • Be creative and innovate
  • Stay calm and avoid reacting
  • Focus on the task at hand
  • Have more clarity to solve problems
  • Arrive with a skillful presence
  • Think before speaking
  • Improve relationships
  • Be patient with self and others
  • Feel compassion for self and others
  • Be effective
  • Feel happier and more fulfilled

Practice mindfulness every day

Practicing mindfulness when you’re not stressed will help you use mindfulness as a tool when coping with stress.

Here are some easy ways to practice mindfulness as you go through your day.

  • Notice how you feel when you wake up. Take a few minutes to lie in bed. Notice any sensations in your body.
  • Pay attention to your hunger signals. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so make sure you have something healthy to eat. If you’re in a hurry, take a breath and sit down — even if it’s just for the first few bites. Instead of grazing on food all day without even tasting it, pick a time to have your snack and stop to enjoy it.
  • Drive to work with the radio off. Take a deep breath if someone cuts you off or if you’re sitting in traffic.
  • Notice what it feels like to be sitting at your desk. Pay attention to when you need to move, eat, drink and empty your bladder. Take short walking or movement breaks. Observe how your body feels afterward. Be conscious of your energy level.
  • As you talk to people, notice the impact they have on you. Be aware of how your words and attitudes impact others, too.
  • Note what you do when you’re talking to someone and you get a text message or a phone call.
  • Allow yourself some transition time from work to home. As you drive home from work, turn the radio off. And when you walk into your home, notice how you feel.
  • Be aware of what you are watching on TV and how it impacts your feelings and mood.
  • Notice if your bedtime routine is relaxing or busy, and what your state of mind is when you get into bed.                        

The most important question:

Ask yourself on a regular basis, “In this moment, what is the most self-caring choice I can make?”

Discover how you can switch off even when you’re switched on with our Fit for Duty podcast episode below.

Source: Healthwise, Incorporated. Available at www.healthwise.net/aetna Accessed 1 March 2017. 

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