You don’t need to retreat to a mountain monastery to discover the miracle of mindfulness. In fact, it’s something you can start applying today. Whether it’s learning to focus on your breathing, savoring every bite you eat or becoming truly attentive to your feelings, mindfulness is a practice rooted in everyday life. All it takes is a little commitment and training. The payoff? Emotional balance, more self-worth and less suffering, for starters. Even better, it’ll teach you to savor those small moments of calm and pleasure that make all the difference on a stressful day.
What you can do:
Give yourself mindfulness cues.
Okay, you now know all about the benefits of mindfulness, but how are you going to remember to make time for meditation when you’re already rushed off your feet as it is? Well, cues will help you embed mindfulness in your everyday routine. Choose an everyday object, like a plate or a pen. Found one? Great, that’s your mindfulness cue. Every time you use that object, it’ll remind you to take a break, breathe deeply and focus on the moment.