Wellbeing

8 Ways To Be More Mindful

Take a tip from the world’s most mindful people to bring balance and harmony back in to your life with these 8 simple steps

We’re all aware of the health benefits of mindfulness, but how do we incorporate it easily into our lives? Mindful people don’t just sit about under trees meditating, they live in the ‘now’ and create intention in every moment of the day. Try practising some of these successful habits of highly mindful people and you’ll soon be on the road to inner peace and contentment.

Breathe deeply

Highly mindful people are conscious of their breathing and how it affects their health and wellbeing, explains mindfulness coach Alfred James (pocketmindfulness.com). “Yoga teachings say that the longer the breath, the longer you live. Inhale and slowly count to three, then exhale and do the same again. Employ your entire torso – your nostrils, throat, collarbones, ribcage and diaphragm. Feel the rush of fresh, oxygenated blood fill you with renewed life.”

Spend time in nature

Getting outside and soaking up the beauty of Mother Nature is one of the most powerful things you can do to bring yourself into the ‘now’ and give yourself a renewed sense of wonder in the world. Studies have shown that walking in the countryside or by the sea helps you to reach a meditative state while research suggests that being outdoors can relieve stress, and improve your energy levels, memory and attention.

Do one thing at a time

The highly mindful don’t try to multitask. They focus fully on each task with complete awareness, one by one, moment by moment. They also take breaks before transitioning to another exercise. “Studies have found that when people are dividing their attention, it takes them 50 percent longer to accomplish a task and they’re 50 percent more likely to make errors,” explains mindfulness teacher Melli O’Brien (mrsmindfulness.com).

Approach every day with curiosity

“Being mindful in day-to-day life entails non-judgemental observation of the details – whether it’s watching every inhalation and exhalation during meditation, bringing your entire attention to washing the dishes, or really enjoying a good meal,” says clinical psychologist Elisha Goldstein of the Centre for Mindful Living (mindfullivingla.org). Take some inspiration from the small things in life and open your eyes to the universal beauty.

Be creative

Forms of art such as music and writing have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety and can get you into a flow state of heightened awareness and consciousness. If you want to become more mindful, just throw yourself into your favourite creative practice, whether that’s painting, writing, baking, dancing or even just singing in the shower, and see how your thoughts quieten down.

Practise gratitude

Mindful people always remember to celebrate the moment. “Be grateful when you’re doing a new habit, and you’ll stick to it longer,” says mindfulness teacher Leo Babuta of Zen Habits (zenhabits.net). “Be grateful when you’re with someone, and you’ll be happier with them. Life is amazing, if you learn to appreciate it.”

Separate thoughts from emotions

“Mindfulness isn’t about being perpetually happy. It’s about the complete acceptance of the present moment as it is,” says Melli. “That means feeling what is here to be felt in this moment, without trying to resist or control it.” Even highly mindful people feel difficult emotions, such as anger, sadness and fear sometimes, but what sets them apart is that they don’t try to avoid or deny these emotions. They acknowledge what they’re feeling. They know that emotions, both pleasant and unpleasant, come and go as a natural part of life.

Accept the ebb and flow

Understanding that nothing is permanent and everything changes is one of the key habits of mindful people. “When we close our eyes and listen we hear how sounds appear and disappear,” says Elisha. “We’re born on this earth, we grow up and eventually pass away. As we practise mindfulness, we come to understand this and in this way, life becomes increasingly precious.”

Be more mindful today!

Bring yourself into the present with these simple daily mindfulness techniques

Brushing your teeth

Turn your daily maintenance routine into a small sacred ritual. Focus on the smell of the toothpaste, the motion of the brush and the clean, smooth feeling of your freshly polished teeth. “Doing this helps you to realise that there is no such thing as a mundane moment, only mundane states of mind,” says Melli.

In the shower

When you’re washing in the morning, turn it into a gentle meditation practice. Focus on the sensation of the water cascading on to your skin, the steam rising all around and the scent of the soap.

On the bus to work

Bring yourself into the moment by clenching your hands and releasing them, says Alfred. Clench. Release. Clench. Release. Do the same thing with your toes. And if that’s too much dexterity, just wiggle your toes. This is one of the physical anchors of selfawareness capable of bringing you into the present moment.

While you’re eating

Being present while you’re eating a meal helps you to listen to your body’s internal signals. Mindful eating includes savouring each mouthful with all your senses and enjoying each moment. In turn, this can lead to you a more positive relationship with food and healthier eating habits.

Doing the housework

Instead of thinking of routine activities as ‘just boring chores’, turn mundane tasks into mindful moments. For instance, if you’re doing the laundry, don’t grit your teeth and rush through. Instead, feel the textures of the fabrics and notice how fresh the new linen smells. Even folding clothes can become a sort of yoga practice as you move mindfully paying attention to each fold.